Whether you are a wine connoisseur, are hosting a dinner party or simply need more space in your kitchen, storing your wine in a self-storage unit can be a brilliant solution. Wine can require more care and storage than just popping it in the fridge, so in order to maintain its quality, there are plenty of things that you need to consider and take into account. Here are a few of the basics when it comes to wine storage.
Self-storage Units
There are many reasons why you may want to keep your wine in storage, whether you are an individual, wine enthusiast or a business. Self-storage units can offer a great storage solution that will help to maintain the quality of your wine. There are many different types of storage unit, and 5×5 or 5×10 units are the most commonly used for this purpose. Keeping the wine in a storage unit can also help the aging process progress more smoothly, resulting in great quality wine. The best type of unit to use for wine storage is a climate-controlled one, as this can help manage some of the elements that cause spoilage, namely temperature and humidity. Renting a self-storage unit is also much cheaper and easier than building a wine cellar in your home!
Vibrations
Wine should be stored horizontally and kept still, in order to avoid stirring the sediments in the wine. This can lead to a chemical reaction that causes a change in taste, making it become too sweet, less aromatic and less acidic. Vibrations can be caused by even the slightest movement or sound, which is why keeping your wine at home, even in a wine cellar, will not totally remove the risk of this happening.
Humidity
The humidity in your storage unit needs to be correct to prevent the wine from spoiling. If the humidity is too low, the cork will dry out, exposing the wine to oxygen, and if the humidity is too high, the cork and label can go moldy. The cork is very important for the quality of the wine, as it helps to prevent the wine from oxidizing. This is also why wine is stored horizontally, to allow it to be in contact with the cork.
Temperature
Temperature changes, however small, can have a big impact on your wine. Too cold, and the wine will freeze, too warm and the wine will also spoil. In general, the optimum temperatures (in degrees Fahrenheit) for the different types of wine are:
- Sparkling wine or champagne – 43 to 47
- Rose, blush and dry wine – 46 to 57
- Deep red wine – 59 to 66
- Light red wine – 55
This is partly why you cannot store all types of wine in one place, such as your fridge, as they all require slightly different temperatures, and the air in your fridge is also too dry. When using a climate-controlled storage unit, you have control over the temperature in your unit, and can ensure that it is constant in order to maintain the quality of the wine and prevent it from spoiling.