BRINGING YOUR WINE HOME
Let your bottles stand upright for 5 to 7 days to allow the corks to expand to create a solid seal. Then store your bottles on their sides to keep the interior side of the corks wet so they won’t dry out.
STORING YOUR WINE AFTER OPENING
Excessive air in your open bottle of wine can cause your wine to oxidize. Depending on the amount of air in the open bottle, wine can go “off” in as little as 24 hours or as long as a week. Spoiling of your open wine can be delayed by ensuring it is firmly capped and/or storing it in the refrigerator.
To avoid spoilage of open wine, many customers use a vacuum wine pump which pumps the air out of the partially full bottle to create a vacuum seal. Wine pumps are widely available in retail stores.
Wine Kitz Ottawa Iris carries Vacuum Wine Pumps for $15.00 each.
CELLARING YOUR WINE
The most critical element to the longevity of your wine is the conditions under which it is stored. The more ideal the conditions, the more longevity you can expect.
So, cellar your wine in the coolest, quietest, darkest place available in your home. The warmer the environment the faster your wine will age. Temperature fluctuations of more than 10°F / 6°C can spoil wine, so find a place that has a consistent temperature and humidity level. The ideal storage temperature for wine is between 13°C – 15°C (45°F – 58°F). Minimal exposure to light and movement or agitation will also assist in the aging process.
Check out this nifty Wine Storage chart.
For more information on cellaring your wine, see our information sheet The Ideal Wine Cellar.