The following is a guest post, courtesy of Matt Schexnayder of SpareFoot.
___________________________________________
If you have a valuable wine collection, it’s important that you store bottles at the proper temperature and in the right conditions to promote proper aging and prevent oxidation. For some, this can be a tall order,
especially if you don’t have a wine cellar in your home or not enough room to store your collection properly. If you want to get serious about your dedication to the art of collecting fine wines and protect your investment, you might find the perfect answer in the availability of wine storage units at some Scottsdale area self-storage facilities.
Storage facilities are the perfect solution to housing a large collection of wine, especially if you are constantly traveling, are a seasonal resident or are planning to take an extensive vacation sometime soon. They are safe, convenient and are far less expensive than building your own wine cellar. Be careful though, storing wine in these units does not just mean you place the bottles in a box on the floor and you are done. There are multiple things you must do in order to assure that your wine remains as protected as possible.
When choosing your unit, the most important feature you want it to have is the ability to control the temperature. Storing wine in too cold of a temperature can cause freezing and storing at too hot of a temperature (which is very likely in Scottsdale) can cause leaks in the cork. Climate controlled storage units can be set to certain temperatures, ensuring that regardless of the variety of wines you’re storing, the bottles will be kept in the optimum environment to preserve their taste.
Depending on what type of wines you are going to be storing, the temperature is going to vary. While the average suggested temperature for wines in general is 55 degrees Fahrenheit, red wines and white wines do have slightly differing requirements. So if you’re going to be storing large quantities of several different types of wines, the ideal circumstance is to store them in separate units that are set to precise temperatures.
If you are going to be storing red wine, the best temperature for those is a constant 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Red wine encompasses merlot, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, zinfandel and shiraz. White wines on the other hand, which includes chardonnays, pinot grigios and sauvignon blancs, should be stored at a slightly lower temperature, usually around 44 degrees Fahrenheit. (If you are a champagne drinker, sparkling wines can be stored with the whites as well). And because of their high sugar content, you don’t have to be as precise with regard to temperature when storing dessert wines. As long as they are kept relatively cool, their taste will be preserved.
In addition to keeping your collection at a certain temperature, it is also important that you store your wine in a specific manner. The following tips offer the best practices for properly storing your wine.
- Store bottles lying on their side. To be more specific, the most preferable position for storing a bottle of wine is with the cork facing downward at a 45 degree angle. To do this, you can buy an inexpensive rack, or just build one yourself (it’s much easier than you think). This will prevent the cork in the bottles from drying out and exposing the wine to air.
- Keep wine away from direct sunlight. The UV rays from the sun can change the taste and even the smell of wine. Most storage units don’t have windows, so it should not be too difficult to do this one.
- Isolate the wine. Don’t store wine with anything else, especially something with a strong smell because the odors can actually get into your wine, ruining the taste.
- Avoid excessive movement. Bottles should be moved as little as possible until they are ready to be consumed. When placing them in storage, position them strategically as to avoid this from happening.
Keeping your precious inventory of wine in a self-storage unit is an affordable way to protect your investment and is an excellent alternative to building a wine cellar. If you are serious about your wine, it is best to move away from improper home storage and keep your wine someplace more appropriate. In any case, use these tips to keep your wine in in perfect drinking condition for many years to come.
___________________________________
This article was written by Matt Schexnayder, who is on the SpareFoot marketing team. SpareFoot is the largest online marketplace for self-storage with more than 5,000 self-storage facilities listed nationwide.
