| Most California wines are best to drink within a year | | | | of these caves are open for public tours. |
| of the bottling date. Sparkling, white, sweet blush, | | | | While storing California wines, certain factors need to |
| Nouveau, and red table wines are intended for early | | | | be considered. A constant temperature is essential |
| consumption and should be stored only for a short | | | | for both short and long term wine storage, as |
| period. These wines must be kept cool while storing. | | | | temperature changes can have a negative effect on |
| Only a few California wine varietals - such as Riesling, | | | | the aging process. The best temperature for long |
| Nebbiolo, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah - can be | | | | term California wine storage is between 50 and 59 |
| stored for a long term. | | | | degrees Fahrenheit. |
| Initially, the wines were stored in oak barrels and | | | | A low humidity often results in dry corks, which |
| kept in large temperature-controlled warehouses. The | | | | allows oxygen to come in contact with the wine. A |
| wines kept in such barrels got easily degraded due to | | | | relative humidity of 75% is best for storing California |
| absorption of air and moisture by wood. Moreover, a | | | | red wines and 85% for storing white wines. Always |
| significant amount of wine was lost due to | | | | keep the wines - especially the red wines - away |
| evaporation. To overcome this, the California wine | | | | from direct sunlight. |
| industry adopted a new storage technique using | | | | In most cases, the California wine bottles are stored |
| tunnels. Tunnels are extremely humid and have a low | | | | horizontally, so that the wines come in contact with |
| evaporation rate, nearly half that of barrels. Today, | | | | the cork and keep it wet. But in some wineries, there |
| wineries in Napa Valley and Sonoma County use this | | | | are stored in inverted position. This is not suitable for |
| tunneling technique to store the wines. | | | | long-term California wine storage. A good storage |
| In northern California, over 130 underground caves | | | | location needs to be free from vibrations and shocks, |
| are available for wine aging and barrel storage. Some | | | | as they deteriorate the wine prematurely. |