How to Buy a Wine Rack
While much of a wine’s flavors and aromas are developed prior to its bottling, most fine wines are constantly changing and evolving as they mature inside the bottle over time. However, this maturation process can make a good wine even better or ultimately ruin it depending on whether it is stored properly or not. This fine line between greatness and failure can all come down to the type of wine rack you use to store your fine wines. So, it’s essential that you consider a few important facts before choosing your wine rack.
When searching for a wine rack, there are a variety of different materials that you can choose from. Wine racks can be made from wood, glass, metal, plastic, or a mixture of materials. It doesn’t really matter which material you choose, but it needs to be sturdy and well made in order to prevent it from breaking or shaking excessively because too much movement can damage the wine inside the bottles over time. You’ll probably want to choose a material that goes best with your décor, so just make sure it’s a good quality rack no matter what it’s made from.
Probably the most important thing you need to consider when choosing your wine rack is where to put it. Wine does best when it is stored in an area that maintains a constant wine-friendly environment. This includes exposing the wine to a minimal amount of light, creating the proper humidity and temperature levels, as well as keeping the wine from moving as little as possible. If you can’t find a place in your home that can fulfill these requirements, you might want to consider a cabinet wine rack. These racks protect your stored wine and provide an environment that is similar in nature to a wine cellar.
Maintaining the proper conditions for your wine storage is important if you want your wine collection to last. If the temperature is kept too high, your wine may age more rapidly than it should. Most wines store well at around 55-60ºF, but more importantly your wine needs to avoid drastic temperature changes throughout the entire year. If you live in a warmer climate, you want to make sure your wine is kept in an area that will not get too warm or else your wine will cook inside the bottle. This is a sure way to ruin any good bottle of wine.
Humidity control is another important factor to consider when choosing the location of your wine rack system. If the humidity is not kept just right, the corks can dry out and shrink away from the sides of the neck, allowing moisture inside the bottles which will ultimately contaminate the wine inside. In order to avoid this situation, a humidity level of 50-70% is generally acceptable, depending on the types of wine you’re storing mixed with the temperature settings.
Light and movement are also things to consider when storing your wine in your wine rack. Exposure to too much ultraviolet light can spoil your wine, so you should never leave your wine sitting out near a window or other light sources for any extended period of time. Vibration can also ruin your wine over time, so you should never keep your wine rack on or near a refrigerator or other appliances that may cause your wine to shake.
While wine racks are a good way to store wine, you may want to consider purchasing a wine cooler if you can’t find an area in your home that allows your wine to mature in the proper conditions it needs to remain healthy. However, if you do find an area that can keep your wine properly chilled, humidified, and protected from light and movement, a wine rack is a perfect and affordable way to begin collecting your wine like a pro.
