| You've been keeping your wine where? For how | | | | it's sure to repay you handsomely for your |
| long? If your wine could speak if would surely be | | | | thoughtfulness. |
| asking for counselling by this stage, or at the very | | | | 4. And if your wine is picking up good vibrations |
| least a package holiday in a musty cellar | | | | Turn these off. |
| somewhere. Whole books, lectures and PHD's | | | | Try if possible to keep your wine away from |
| have been dedicated to this subject, but we'd like | | | | your dishwasher, spin dryer, or any other |
| to give you the low down in under 500 words. | | | | household appliance that just can't stay still. (Oh, |
| There are really just four Golden rules in wine | | | | and a word about humidity) A relative humidity of |
| storage. | | | | about 70% is generally thought to keep corks |
| The Four Golden Rules | | | | suitably damp whilst also keeping labels mould-free. |
| 1. Keep the bottle on its side | | | | And if you don't trust yourself If you've got |
| The majority of fine wines (which are usually the | | | | some seriously expensive stuff, and it's apparent |
| wines with the capacity to age) are still closed | | | | you don't have the right storage conditions, it's |
| traditionally with a cork. It's very important to | | | | often a good idea to consider a wine warehouse |
| keep the cork moist, so let the wine rest on its | | | | or storage facility. Remember these warehouses |
| side. Resist the temptation to parade your | | | | will not accept a single bottle, but will accept full |
| maturing wine in front of your friends in your | | | | cases (ie 12 bottles). Charges can be surprisingly |
| living room. It's a delicate creature, and this fools | | | | affordable, and if you have plans to sell your wine |
| around with the sediment nicely collecting along | | | | in the future this can help in your asking price. |
| the wine's belly. | | | | Good wine warehouses in the UK include Smith |
| 2. Make sure your bottle is not too hot, or too | | | | and Taylor (tel: 020 7627 5070) or London City |
| cold | | | | Bond (tel: 013 7585 3700). |
| Fluctuating temperatures in particular are very bad | | | | Finally, a word about maturity |
| for wines, and should be avoided. Ideal storage | | | | The majority of wines available for sale are |
| conditions are about 8-14 degrees centigrade | | | | designed to be drunk within 1 to 2 years of |
| (ideally 9-10). | | | | purchase. If the wine you are buying is capable of |
| 3. Keep the wine away from bright light | | | | ageing, the wine merchant should be able to let |
| Wines, like us at 4am in the morning, are terrible | | | | you know when it is good to consume. Happy |
| with bright light. Keep your wine in darkness and | | | | drinking. |