| Do you know why I truly love red wine? The answer | | | | enough but you'll be surprised how many people |
| is because there are so many different flavors and | | | | make that mistake. When red wine is kept in a |
| touches with red than white. Some people call it | | | | heated place, you ruin it causing it to become soupy |
| complexities. I call it heaven and the more complex | | | | and runny. Room temperature is acceptable only |
| the wine is the more it has to offer in taste and | | | | when you are getting close to opening it. |
| value which is why people are beginning to store it. | | | | - I recommend keeping your red wine collection in a |
| For us who enjoy and collect different red wines, | | | | cool, dark place such as a basement. When you hear |
| making sure the bottles are stored properly is more | | | | someone speak about how they have a wine cellar, |
| important than anything else. | | | | most of the time they are talking about their |
| You may not have realized but collecting wines has | | | | basement. It is important to monitor the temperature |
| quietly become the latest rage. Everyone across the | | | | of your basement now and then. It should |
| country has now started up their own little wine | | | | consistently be between 55 and 65 degrees F. Any |
| collection. The reason is the process of storing it has | | | | prolonged exposure to temperatures over that will |
| become so easy, basically anyone can do it. Here a | | | | ruin its composition. |
| few steps to follow to make sure you are properly | | | | - The bottles are always to be stored on their sides |
| storing your bottles of red wine. | | | | enough so that the wine is in constant contact with |
| - Before you begin storing red wines, it is a pretty | | | | the cork. The reason for this is because the wine |
| good idea to learn some things about it. For example, | | | | prevent the cork from drying out and ruining the |
| there are a number of different varieties of red | | | | wine. It also prevents any air from getting into the |
| wines and each require different preparations before | | | | bottle possibly contaminating it. To show you are a |
| they should be served. Some are at their best at | | | | true wine connoisseur, ask to see a moist cork so |
| room temperature and then there are other red that | | | | you know the wine is stored properly. |
| should only be served with a slight chill to them. | | | | - If you are truly serious about beginning a red wine |
| Beaujolais, valpolicella, chianti and pinot noir are all | | | | collection but your home doesn't have a basement to |
| wines that should be served after chilled since they | | | | make into a wine cellar think about making an extra |
| tend to be young with less texture. A half hour is the | | | | closet into one. The ideal location for one would be |
| norm. | | | | an area that has proper air circulation. This prevents |
| - One rule of thumb I like to follow is this little piece | | | | any mold from growing. Another storage idea that |
| of advice: It is always better to keep a bottle of red | | | | I've seen is the use of rented storage for the sole |
| wine chilled rather than heated. It may seem obvious | | | | purpose of collection of wines. |