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The Perfect Wine Temperature
Although position is an important factor when storing your
wine, temperature is the most crucial factor. Even though you
may not have the ideal storage conditions available, you must
always strive to the optimum storage temperature. Storage
temperature is so important, because it affects the overall
quality, flavor, and longevity of the wine.
Most high quality wines tend to be stored for long periods of
time, which is you need to maintain a consistent, controlled
temperature throughout the lifetime of your wine.
Wine storage temperature should always be between fifty and
sixty five degrees Fahrenheit. When stored in this temperature
range, the wine will develop to its full potential.
Before modern refrigeration techniques had been invented, wine
was stored in underground cellars and caves. When
refrigeration arrived, it quickly became the easiest and most
preferred way to store wine effectively, as it allows the
owner to maintain a consistent temperature.
These days, science plays a major role in wine making.
Science has proven over the years that aging is actually a
chain of chemical reactions which occur over time. Depending
on the temperature, the chemical reactions can either be
desirable or undesirable.
Chemical reactions often have unique environmental conditions
which need to be satisfied for each individual reaction to
happen.
In a nutshell, if the temperature isn’t perfect, the
appropriate chemical reactions in the wine may not occur as
planned.
If wine is stored in direct sunlight or in a hot area, the
increase in temperature can result in a chemical reaction that
will damage both the flavor and the quality of the wine.
Wine that has been spoiled by heat will normally turn brown
due to oxidation. When this happens, the flavor will be
tainted and the quality of the wine will be compromised,
causing the drinker to react in an unpleasant and possibly
frightening way.
One way of gaining an identical reaction from someone to the
one I just mentioned, is by sneaking up on them and abruptly
standing on their toe with full force.
Now, I think it is safe to say we do not wish to gain this
reaction from anybody, let alone the individual who is
consuming our vintage.
Cold temperatures on the other hand may slow the aging
process, although it may also prevent the wine from reacting
as intended.
Low temperatures may not affect the quality or taste of the
wine too adversely, but is not a recommended storage
condition.
All bottles of wine, until opened, should be stored above
fifty degrees Fahrenheit. This way, the wine is at the correct
storage temperature and reacts how it needs to.
You should keep any open bottles in your refrigerator, as the
average temperature is normally forty one degrees Fahrenheit.
You shouldn’t keep unopened bottles in the fridge, as the
temperature is much too cold.
Follow the above tips when storing your wine. You’ll find the
taste to be spectacular.
Storing wine well will always raise its value and improves the
taste - providing it is stored correctly.
Source:
http://www.winebuyer.net |
