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Wine storage... even in an apartment
It is however,
unlikely that the great majority of wine lovers can offer their
wines such a home. But, nevertheless, wines can thrive very well
in an ordinary apartment or house, under the proper conditions.
In a house, perhaps
the best location would be somewhere in the basement, far enough
away from the boiler so that it will not be affected by heat. In
an apartment. probably the preferred location would be a closet
(a well ventilated one, if at all possible) which is not near
any heating pipe or radiator.
If an entire closet
is not available, racks can be bought in some liquor shops,
department stores, specialty shops and some mail order houses.
The most common rack bolds one case (12 bottles) of wine.
Some racks are designed so
that they can be stacked one on top of the other in the bottom
of a closet, cupboard, cabinet. etc. In lieu of racks, wine or
spirit cartons can be used if they have, as many do, separate
compartments for each individual bottle.
If these cartons are used,
they are turned on their sides, and, thus the wine is stored in
the proper position.
In storing wine, it
should be kept in mind that the bottles of table and sparkling
wines must be stored lying on their sides so that the cork is
always in contact with the wine and, therefore, always moist.
Should the cork dry up and excessive air allowed to seep into
the bottle, it is likely that eventually the wine will be
ruined.
The white wines,
being more sensitive to heat than the red ones, should be stored
on the lower shelves, closer to the floor, and the red wines may
then be stored on the shelves above. Fortified wines and spirits
do not have to lie on their sides. These bottles, therefore, are
stored standing up on the top shelves, unless kept for decades.
When new wines are
purchased, those bottles which contain exceptionally great wine,
should be stored on the very bottom shelf so that they are not
touched until the time comes for them to be served. Movement
would shake the sediment in the wine and disturb the maturing
process.
Bottles of younger
wine, which are purchased to be kept until complete maturation,
should also be placed on the lower shelves, while the wines
which you intend to drink first should be easily accessible on
the higher shelves. This will avoid all unnecessary handling and
shaking of the wine.
It is a good idea to
keep a cellar book with a list of the wines which are in the
inventory. If the wines are listed in it by shelves. they are
easily and quickly picked out when wanted. This cellar book is
also an invaluable aid in keeping the cellar owner informed as
to when and what wines should be reordered and in what quantity.
In addition to this, the book may be used to keep a record of
"personal taste".
After having tasted
a wine, notes can be made on whether or not the wine suited your
taste. which were preferred with what foods. etc. This makes
re-ordering a "sure-fire" proposition.
Along with the
cellar, a more or less inexpensive library on wine may be
collected. Wine merchants, importers. organizations publicizing
French wine, will gladly supply you, at no cost, with
specialized literature. Even if you don't buy any books, you
will soon see your "library" grow.
However, adding from
time to time, a good book on wine to your shelves, will enable
you to become not only an "enlightened', wine lover, but also a
clever purchaser and an interesting conversationalist. The one
who starts building a French wine cellar has in store for him
years and years of intellectual and gustatory enjoyment.
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