Wine Storage

Once you have purchased wine, whether it's a few bottles or several cases, the issue of storage must be addressed. Since most wine is consumed within 24 to 48 hours of purchase, for many wine lovers a small rack away from a direct heat source provides an ideal solution. If you plan to collect fine wines that benefit from additional bottle maturation, proper storage is essential. Before choosing a space be sure it will be large enough to accommodate future purchases. In some cases, vacant space beneath a stairway is sufficient, in others it may be necessary to allow for hundreds of wines stored both as individually racked bottles and full cases.

One of wine's greatest enemies is extreme heat. Temperatures greater than 70degrees Fahrenheit will age a wine more quickly, and can also cook" a wine until the fruit character becomes blunted, resulting in flat aromas and flavors. Equally important is the rate at which temperature changes. Rapid temperature fluctuations may cause pressure changes within a bottle, forcing the cork upwards and allowing leaks while permitting air to enter the bottle. Air is another of wine's enemies. Any prolonged exposure will lead to oxidation, which produces a brownish color and Sherry-like flavors.

Therefore it is important to have a cool space with constant temperature for long-term storage. If your storage area is naturally cool (for example, a below-ground cellar), that's fine; if not, it may be necessary to invest in a cooling unit. Light may also harm wine over time. Bottles should be kept away from direct sunlight, preferably in darkness, and should be stored on their sides, either in cases or racked.

Humidity is more controversial but it's nothing to worry about unless you're keeping wines for the long-term. Some experts advocate a constant humidity of 70 percent to prevent corks from drying out, while others maintain that if a bottle is on its side, the cork is constantly in contact with moisture inside the bottle and external humidity is ineffectual.

葡萄酒的儲藏：

 一旦你已購買了酒,不論是幾瓶或幾箱,儲存問題至關重要. 由於大多數葡萄酒在購買後24至48小時內飲用， 許多葡萄酒愛好者提供一個小酒架來遠離直接熱源是一個理想的解決辦法. 如果您打算收集好的葡萄酒，好的葡萄酒瓶適當的儲存，味道會更好. 然後選擇的空間,要確保有足以容納未來的購買量. 在一般情況下，空閑的樓梯下方是個選擇，在其他方面可能有必要讓好的葡萄酒通過一段時間的儲存，味道會變得更好喝，既可以單獨酒架或整箱儲藏.

 其中葡萄酒的最大敵人是高溫. 氣溫大於70華氏將加快葡萄酒的老化, 並還會‘煮’酒,讓其果味性格變得淡薄, 造成淡淡的香味和風味. 同樣重要的是溫差,溫度的變化. 溫度急劇波動可能造成一瓶葡萄酒內部壓力改變, 迫使軟木向上,並產生外泄,同時也允許空氣進入酒瓶. 空氣是另一個葡萄酒的敵人. 任何長期暴露都會導致氧化,使其會產生棕褐色和老酒的風味.

 因此,重要的是要有一個涼爽的空間,恆溫長期貯存. 如果你的存儲區域,是自然冷卻(例如,地下酒窖) ,那很好; 如果沒有, 可能有必要投資於一個冷卻裝置. 光線也可能傷害到葡萄酒. 酒瓶應遠離陽光直接照射,最好在陰暗處,並應橫放在酒箱或酒架裡.

濕度是非常要控制的,但卻不必太操心,除非你要長期保存葡萄酒. 有些專家主張相對濕度70%左右,以防止封口干燥, 而其他人則認為,如果酒瓶橫放, 軟木可以不斷接觸瓶內水分則外部濕度不起作用.