How to store wine at home, terms and conditions for different types

Novice winemakers wonder how and where to store homemade wine. Taste, aroma, technical shelf life are determined by a set of conditions. Failure to comply with any of them will result in damage to the product. At best, its taste deteriorates, at worst, it causes intoxication.

About the shelf life of opened wine

According to the shelf life, all drinks are divided into 2 groups: perishable, which improve the taste over the years.The first group of wines is characterized by rapid oxidation in contact with air. Each type of wine has its own shelf life after opening.

Sparkling

Soft drinks are saturated with carbon dioxide. According to strength (10.5-12.5%) and sugar content (0.3-12%), they are subdivided into semi-dry, semi-sweet, sweet. After opening, the drink should be drunk within 24 hours.

white

The drinks are obtained by fermentation of musts (without grains, without skins) of light grape varieties. They also use berries with burgundy skin whose flesh is not colored. After opening, a bottle of house white wine should be drunk within 24 hours.

red

The raw materials are berries of varieties of Burgundy cultivation. The must is taken with grains and skins. During fermentation, they release phenolic compounds, a coloring pigment, and give wine astringency. Light red wines can be drunk (after opening the bottle) for 3 days, strong - 5 days, fortified - 7 days.

Pink

To obtain rosé wine, they take a must that has no pulp. All varieties are used. Draft drinks should be placed on the refrigerator shelf and drunk before the end of the 3rd day.

Dessert

You can enjoy Sherry, Sauternes, Madeira, Port for a whole week if you put a bottle in the fridge. These foods contain a lot of sugars that inhibit oxidative processes.

Canned

Boxed wines (BAG-IN-BOX) do not lose their aroma and taste after opening for 28 days.

Basic rules for home storage

Natural products retain their commercial characteristics (aroma, color, taste) longer and better if the storage conditions are respected.

Humidity

It is necessary to maintain a humidity of at least 50%, the optimal values ​​​​are 60-80%.Under such conditions, the corks retain their structure and do not dry out.

Look at Also

How and where is it better to store honey at home, temperature and time

Temperature

At room temperature, the taste of the wine suffers. For grape wines, the optimal storage regime is 10-12°C. Other temperatures have a negative impact:

• above 12°C accelerates ageing;
• below 10°C the taste is altered.

Fortified beverages are stored at 14-16°C.

Environment

An ordinary refrigerator is not suitable for long-term storage of wine. Alcoholic beverages absorb odors from food and vegetables.

Sealing

For sealing, in addition to the cork, the neck is poured with sealing wax, melted wax. Without oxygen, the wine does not oxidize, it keeps longer:

• fruits and berries (plums, apples) - 5 years;
• aronia - more than 5 years.

packaging material

It is better to use dark glass bottles, natural cork stoppers. This container protects the wine from light, it preserves its taste.

The product breathes, if the cork is natural, and does not acquire foreign tastes.

Homemade drinks can be poured into glass jars by rolling them up with sterile lids. For weak wines (alcohol 10-14 degrees), food-grade plastic bottles with the marking are suitable:

• HDPE;
• ANIMALS.

Variety

Any homemade wine can be stored in a transparent container for 1 year. Using dark glass barrels and bottles will extend shelf life.

Oxygen contact zone

The contents turn into vinegar if the volume of air in the container (bottle, oak barrel, glass jar) is large.The higher the air temperature, the more intense the oxidation processes.

Arrangement of bottles

It is best to store bottles horizontally. This arrangement prevents the corks from drying out and ensures long-term sealing of the packaging.

Ultraviolet irradiation

Natural alcoholic beverages age when exposed to light.

Vibes

Moving bottles and barrels from place to place shortens shelf life. Any vibration interferes with the maturation of the wine.

Expiry dates

Elite wines have been preserved for centuries. A bottle of a prestigious drink produced in the early to mid-20th century costs between $20,000 and $300,000. Ordinary alcoholic beverages have a shelf life of 2-5 years. The shelf life of the drink after opening the bottle is considerably reduced.

In a closed

Subject to storage rules, light alcoholic beverages poured into an airtight container may be consumed after the warranty period has expired. It is indicated on the packaging. The term determines the period of time during which chemical reactions do not occur in the product that alter taste, affect odor, color, aroma and the presence of sediment.

Outside

The table shows the approximate shelf life of alcoholic beverages after opening. The intended storage place is a refrigerator, a sealed cap is required.

Made of plastic

Homemade drinks can be stored in food-grade plastic bottles for up to 3 months.

In a tetrapak

This packaging does not transmit light, gas and does not come into chemical contact with the drink.It is not prohibited to use the contents of the tetra pack after the expiry date indicated on the packaging, if it is not inflated and has no damage.

Preservation methods

There are several ways to extend the life of your wine after opening the bottle.

Vacuum plugs

The caps are sold complete with a pump. With its help, air is pumped out of the bottle. These accessories are not suitable for sparkling wines and champagne. Vacuum corks extend the life of wine up to 4-5 days.

Look at Also

How can you save corn on the cob for the winter, rules and location

Gas application

Argon is used. This inert gas displaces air from the bottle, does not interact with an alcoholic drink. In the absence of oxygen, the oxidation reactions do not start. On sale there are special canisters filled with argon, equipped with a tube.

Transfusion

Take a container of smaller volume, pour the drink into it. The fluid level should be below the neck. The bottle must be corked with a cork, placed in the refrigerator. This method increases the shelf life of drinks:

• sparkling for up to 24 hours instead of 4 hours;
• whites up to 3 days instead of 1 day;
• red up to 5 days;
• fortified for up to 7 days.

Cooling

It is best to store leftover alcohol in the refrigerator. In a chilled drink, oxidation processes are slowed down. Red wines should be left at room temperature before drinking.

Coravin System

With this system, the drink is poured into a glass without removing the cork from the bottle. Oxygen does not enter the container, the wine does not oxidize, the use of the Coravin system extends its life up to 3 months. The device is made of materials that are safe for humans:

• food grade plastic;
• Stainless steel;
• nylon;
• polyurethane.

Optimal storage space

All wine improves after 6 months of ageing. During storage, it is necessary to exclude all factors that promote oxidation processes, so that at the time of opening there is a fragrant drink in the bottle, and not vinegar.

Wine cellar or cellar

It is necessary to adapt the cellar to the conservation of wine. Install a ventilation system. Provide a stable temperature regime. Maintain a temperature of 8°C all year round. There should be no vegetables or fruit in the cellar. Rotten food spoils the aroma and taste of wine stored in bottles and oak barrels.

Cabinet or refrigerator with air conditioning

A wine cooler (multi-temperature, single-temperature, two-zone, three-zone) or a special refrigerator for storing wine is purchased for an apartment. Doors of household appliances reliably protect bottles from light, shelves are equipped with vibration protection.

The required temperature and humidity are maintained in the chamber.

Special room

The apartment has a separate room. A ventilation system is installed in it, protection from direct sunlight, and the desired air temperature is maintained.

Closed horizontal shelves, shelves or drawers

These structures are built in an apartment. They are located away from heating appliances. For this purpose, dark rooms without windows are chosen.

Open horizontal shelves, shelves or drawers

Constructions for storing wine stocks, designed according to all the requirements of modern design, perform 2 functions:

• serve as a place of storage;
• decorate the house.

Under water

This method was invented by Spanish winegrowers. They set up a liquor store at the bottom of the Bay of Biscay.The thickness of the water there is at least 20 meters, the temperature changes little, is in the range of 11-15°C.

Cellars for rent

Some industrial companies specializing in wine production offer their storage premises to private winegrowers.

Storage characteristics of different varieties

Experts have concluded that only 1% of wines produced worldwide improve their taste after 5 to 10 years; in 5-10% of intoxicating beverages it improves a year after production. Some winegrowers' products do not lend themselves to long-term storage. An important property is influenced by the quality of raw materials, production technology, grape growing region, storage conditions.

Look at Also

Rules and best ways to store horseradish at home for the winter

Sparkling

This type of alcoholic beverage should not be stored for more than a day in an open bottle. Even with a sealed cap, they lose their aroma, their gas and become like water.

white

Half-drunk white wine can be stored in the refrigerator for only 3 days. After this time, pour it or put it on the marinade or baking dessert.

Pink

Even in the refrigerator, rosé wine will turn into vinegar the third day after opening the bottle. It is best to drink light table drinks during the day. During this time, they do not have time to oxidize, retain their original aroma and taste.

Dessert

In dessert wines, the percentage of sugar and alcohol is high, so the oxidation processes are slower in them. In an open bottle, spirits are kept for at least a week.

Home made

Requirements for the storage conditions of homemade wine are standard. It is often poured into jars and stored in a cellar has been consumed for many years.After opening, the container with the remains of wine is sent to the refrigerator.

Young

For a long time, wine that has undergone heat treatment - pasteurization is stored. It is done in two ways:

1. Vessels with wine are placed in a vessel filled with water. The neck is plugged with a cotton swab. The water is heated to 60°C. Heat treatment is continued for 20 minutes, then the bottles are removed, corked, sent to storage.
2. Closed bottles are immersed in water so that it completely hides them. Heated to 70-72°C. This temperature is maintained for 30 minutes. Let the water cool. First, the corks are filled with paraffin, then the bottles are sent to storage.

Young pasteurized wine can be stored for a long time at a temperature of 10-12°C.

How long can a bottle be kept closed

We can speak of aging potential if the bottles are kept in suitable conditions. If they are violated, even elite wines are spoiled. Drinks with low pH, containing a higher percentage of phenols, tannins and extracts, live longer. The flavor of the aging wine is influenced by the ratio of 4 components:

• sugars;
• phenols;
• the water;
• acids.

No aging potential

Vermouth, inexpensive varietal wines, Asti, basic sherry, wine concentrate drinks, Moscato Spumane, Tony Ports are not stored for long. It is recommended to drink them immediately or within the first year.

Good aging potential

A list of wines with good aging potential is given in the table.

Sommelier tips and tricks

If the wine is stored correctly, it will delight you after 5 years with a wonderful bouquet. The ambient temperature is of great importance. He has his own for each variety.

Wine products should not be placed warm and near heating devices. Temperature fluctuations have a negative effect on the structure of corks. They let air through, because of this, oxidation processes begin.