A wine rack is a sensible and attractive investment designed to maintain wine conveniently in the best position to preserve flavor and quality. A wine rack will help the enthusiast adhere to the best practices of wine storage.
An infrequent wine drinker may think nothing of storing a bottle of table red right side up on the counter or in a cupboard. A bottle of white may be chilled indefinitely in the kitchen refrigerator. A party might necessitate several bottles or even a box of wine. No harm is done. The wine police will not issue a ticket! However, a wine lover or burgeoning aficionado would do well to heed a few basic facts about wine storage before beginning a collection of cherished and expensive varietals.
There are three key best practices for wine storage:
-Maintain low lighting
-Balance room temperature at 50-60 degrees F
-Keep the cork wet
Early winemakers discovered that wine retained its best flavor and quality when it was stored in barrels that were kept in dark, cool cellars. Both light and heat created a chemical change in wine that was detrimental to its flavor. The corks needed to be kept damp to prevent them from drying out. A dry cork would shrink and allow oxygen to enter the bottle and infuse the wine. The process of oxidation in the wine also changed its quality and flavor. These guidelines are followed even today.
What does this mean to modern day wine enthusiasts? The traditional wine cellar is still preferred for those true oenophiles who invest much money into their wine collections, and who have homes equipped with the designated, properly designed wine cellar. However, even people without a grand budget and home can keep their wine in excellent condition and flavor by following these tips:
-Low lighting is partly achieved by the manufacturers, who bottle their wines using dark glass. Storing the wine in a pantry, basement room, or basically, a low-lit room will do the trick.
-The cool temperature can be accomplished in a lower level room, like a basement, a refrigerator, or a cool home area. Special wine refrigerators can also be purchased.
-Wine corks are kept wet by laying the bottle on its side. Screw top bottles prevent the problem of a dry cork and are even used today on some high quality wines.
With changes and improvements in modern-day bottling practices, why would a person invest in a wine rack? First, a wine rack does achieve the need for keeping the cork wet. It also allows you to store wine conveniently, whether you have one bottle or 100 bottles. The wine rack can be placed on the countertop, the floor, in a pantry, or in a cellar. A wine rack also looks classy! It is practically and aesthetically important to have an attractive and durable wine rack storage system. It is a given that anyone interested in having a growing and expensive wine collection would not want to do so behind a kitchen cabinet.
Today’s wine racks are made of many materials, come in many sizes and a wide range of prices. Wrought iron wine racks have always been a popular solution to storing wine for obvious reasons. Wrought iron display wine racks are desirable not only because of their rugged durability but also because of the variety of interesting designs that can be created. From small wrought iron wine racks in the shape of a butler to larger floor standing wine racks with grapevine trim, wrought iron provides a sturdy and attractive framework built to last.
If space is an issue, choose a countertop model that holds six or 12 bottles. Or, select a rack that does double duty as a serving or end table. Topped with wood or glass, a wrought iron rack of this type does its job and makes a positive statement about the owner’s taste in decorating. These racks store wine, display it, and hold the bottle when opened. Add a brick of cheese on a bamboo cutting board and the ambiance is created!
A wine rack storage system is a sensible investment for anyone who really enjoys and appreciates everyday bottles of wine as well as fine wines. You can also build your own wine rack if you’d rather do that. The range of prices will suit all budgets and the variety of sizes will suit all kitchens and cellars. A good rack can keep wine stored in top condition for years to come as long as the conditions in the storage room are also correct. That special bottle of wine will be ready tonight or in a fortnight
, whenever the time comes to finally open it.
