Expert Wine Storage Tips and Different Types of Wine

Proper Wine Storage Tips from Experts

There is more to wine than satisfying your palate. Elevate your sense of appreciation for every bottle you open by knowing the various types of wines, how they were made, and how to store them the right way. Below are some basic facts about wine that should jump-start your learning experience.

Know the Different Types of Wine

Wines are classified into six categories: red wines, white wines, sparkling wines, rosé wines, dessert wines, and fortified wines. Red wine is made by fermenting black grape varieties.  Extracts from black grapes are usually colorless.  In order to achieve red wine’s ruby hue, grape skins are included in the wine-making process.

Tannins are commonly found in grape skins as well, and as a result, red wines have more tannin content than any other type of wine.  If you ever felt a puckering feeling in your mouth after drinking red wine, that would be due to the presence of tannins.  Some well-known red wines are Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chianti, and Merlot.

Contrary to its name, white wine is not white but has more of a yellow hue.  White wine is usually made from green and yellow-skinned grape varieties.  Although red grapes are also used, they only extract the juice and discard the skins.  White wines are known to have a crisp flavor that is refreshing to the palate, so if you ever plan to host an event during the summer months, white wines would be an ideal drink for the occasion.  Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are some examples of popular white wines.

Sparkling wine contains carbon dioxide, which is responsible for its fizzy appearance.  Although most sparkling wines are white or rosé, there are certain countries that produce sparkling red wines (e.g., Australian Shiraz).   Some famous sparkling wines are Cava, Espumante, and Champagne.   An interesting fact about sparkling wine is that it can only be referred to as Champagne if it was produced in the Champagne region of France.

Rosé wine is a type of wine that has somewhat of a pinkish color.  There are three ways to produce this wine:  skin contact, saignée, and blending.  Skin contact is when dark-skinned grapes briefly come into contact with the extracted juice.  Saignée is a process wherein the pink juice that has been extracted during the fermentation process of red wines is transferred to a separate vat and fermented again to produce rosé.  Blending is simply combining red wines with white.

Dessert wine is a sweet beverage that is best served, as its name implies, with your favorite dessert.  It is made from grape varieties that are harvested late.  This type of wine has a high concentration of both alcohol and sugar.

Fortified wine is produced when brandy and other spirits are added to the wine while it is fermenting.  Fermentation is halted due to the presence of brandy, which eventually makes the wine sweeter.  Common examples of fortified wines are Port and Sherry.

Your knowledge about wines should not be limited to their type or kind but should also extend to their proper storage, which plays a vital role in maintaining the condition of your wines.

Keep in mind that there are three key factors that influence the quality of your wines:  light, humidity, and temperature.  All three should be regulated and kept at constant levels in order to maintain the right conditions for your wines.

Wine Storage Tips from Master Builders

A Wine Cellar with a Stable Storage Environment Will Keep Wines for Many Years

As a master wine cellar builder with many years of experience, Coastal Custom Wine Cellars understands the crucial role of a stable environment in the aging of wine. Storing wines in a kitchen refrigerator or air-conditioned room will cause the wine to lose its desirable characteristics.

Therefore, investing in a refrigerated wine room is the best option for wine collectors who want to safeguard their wines from damaging factors like heat, light, odor, and vibration. Our team wants you to enjoy your prized wines for many years to come.

Here are some essential tips about wine storage:

Wine Should Be Kept in a Room with the Ideal Wine Storage Temperature and Humidity Level

Your wine storage room must have the optimum conditions needed for wine aging. The ideal temperature in which to store your wine is between 50-59 °F.

Did you know that exposure to light can also damage your wines?  Unfortunately, this is true.  So, that brings us to number three: store your wines in dark places where they are safe from the harmful effects of light, especially UV.

Different wines have their own unique storage needs. To achieve optimum results during wine storage, here are some temperature guidelines:  for red wines, the temperature should be between 55-60°F; for white wines, the temperature should be within 49-56°F; for sparkling wines, the temperature should be around 43-47°F; and between 49-51°F for rosé wines.

The humidity levels must also be regulated. It should be kept between 50%-75%. Keep in mind that too much humidity will cause condensation build-up in the walls and cause mold growth, damaging the structural integrity of your wine cellar, as well as the wine racks, cork, and wine labels.

Keep the Cork Moist to Prevent Brittleness and Oxidation

Your wine bottles should be stored on their sides to keep the cork moist as it remains in contact with the wine.  Keeping the cork wet at all times prevents it from drying out. A cork that has dried out will become brittle and decrease in size. When this happens, the sealing ability of the cork will be compromised, allowing an unwanted amount of oxygen to get into the bottles and mix with the wine, leading to wine oxidation. When wine is oxidized, it will taste like burnt fruit or wet cardboard.

Install a Wine Cellar Cooling Unit Chosen and Installed by a Wine Storage Expert

The wine cooling unit is a vital component in wine cellar construction because it is the key to efficient wine storage. To achieve the perfect wine storage environment needed by wine for proper maturation, the right size and type of wine refrigeration system must be installed in your wine room.

Coastal Custom Wine Cellars offers different types of wine cellar cooling units from top-notch manufacturers.

Work with Our Wine Storage Expert in Your Next Project

Coastal Custom Wine Cellars provides professional wine cellar and HVAC installation services for residential and commercial applications. With many years of experience in building refrigerated wine rooms, our innovative wine storage solutions cater to our client’s needs.

If you have any questions or are looking for an expert wine cellar designer and builder, please call us at +1 (949) 200-8134.