The Roanoker November/December 2023 - 70

homes
If you have ever purchased a case or more of wine, you might have
wondered how to make the best of your living situation to keep your
bottles until you're ready for them. Since a proper renovation project to
create the dream wine cellar isn't always on the cards, here are some tips
and points to consider if you're looking to care for your current collection
working with the space you're currently in.
Why collect wine?
If you drink wine regularly, it's much more cost effective to purchase
your favorite bottles in a case (12 bottles) rather than at individual unit
prices at your grocery store. Plus, it's an experience that can be recreated:
Going to wineries and tasting with friends are memories that can quite
literally be bottled and purchased by the case to be enjoyed in the future.
Ideally, find an independent bottle shop where you can chat with a
staff person to put together a case that will cover the range of needs for
most wine drinkers. In our house, we try to always have a few wines that
are immediately drinkable; gift bottles at-the-ready as a thank you or
hostess gift; a range for gatherings and celebrations (for us this means
bubbles and a couple of reds and whites); and finally, a few special bottles
meant to age that can be enjoyed in five, 10 or upwards of 20 years.
But even if you aren't planning ahead beyond next Friday's happy
hour, keeping a case of your favorite rosé on hand is never a bad idea.
70 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
Storage 101
The number one thing to know about storage is that you want steady
conditions that don't fluctuate dramatically. This means that you're looking
for a place that is dark, still, cool and with some humidity control.
For these reasons, in most living spaces your best bet will probably be an
indoor cupboard or closet, like the one you've been dumping off-season
clothing in under the stairs.
Wine aging is a chemical reaction where a tiny, controlled amount of
oxygen is introduced to the wine through a cork (or some of the modern
screw caps, that are made to mimic the permeability of traditional cork).
While not all wines are meant to age-let alone steadily improve over
decades-the ones that are typically have either high acidity or high tannins
(the astringent " drying " sensation you get from certain big red wines)
which help preserve the wine over time. The length of time means that
the more controlled you can make the environment around the wine,
the more reliable the final result will be.
Wine coolers are ideal, and can be found in a range of sizes capable
of holding as little as six to as many as 200+ bottles at a time, accommodating
whatever your need may be. A wine fridge is better than a
typical kitchen refrigerator, which can be too cold for standard bottle
needs. Most wines want to stay at a consistent temperature somewhere
between 45 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
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The Roanoker November/December 2023

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