A wedding is a time when family and friends get together to celebrate the union of two people in love. Keeping with the theme of “pairing”, wine is an excellent addition to the foods and desserts that you have prepared for the big day.
To make sure that you have enough wine for the celebration, purchase what you need in advance and keep it in a suitable space so that it doesn’t spoil before the reception. Whether you are having a destination wedding or a wedding at home, the following guide will help keep your wine in pristine condition.
Purchasing Your Wine
Unless you decide to have your wedding at a winery, where your drink options are easily accessible, you may have to buy your wine in bulk at an earlier time. As a result of the timing, you’ll need to think about how to store your wine properly. No one wants these wonderful adult beverages ruined before the big day!
No Wine Fridge? No Problem
If you don’t have a wine fridge, no worries. There are many other ways to store your wine.
A cellar or basement is your best bet. You can also utilize storage boxes, a cupboard, basement or closet. Ensure that you keep all wines away from walls that have an external side, so that the outside temperature does not affect the wine.
Other tips? Don’t share your wine’s spaces with chemicals and petrol, as accidents can occur and chemicals might seep through the cork. If possible, see that there is ventilation in the storage space, so wines don’t get musty.
Regulate Temperature and Humidity
A lot of consideration needs to be taken regarding the temperature in which you store your wine. When the weather gets too hot, the cork may pop out of the bottle or the liquid will spill out and settle around the cork. Additionally, high temperatures can also cause the wine to mature faster and it will end up losing its aroma and taste.
On the other hand, if the weather gets too cold and the water content of the wine is at a freezing temperature, the bottle may break.
Find ways to regulate the temperature of the space in which you are storing the wine. For example, keep a humidity monitor in the storage area. If the levels are not high enough, place a home humidifier in the space, too.
Store Bottles Horizontally
Horizontal storage of wine bottles will keep the cork moist. If the cork becomes dry, oxygen will seep into the bottle. Storing your wine horizontally also makes for efficient storage. You will be able to lay them atop each other in a geometric pattern, especially if you don’t have shelving. It is important to note that wines with screw tops are not affected by horizontal storage and can be kept upright.
Keep Bottles Away from Light and Vibration
Avoid light on the wine bottles, as it can cause the wine to spoil and discolor. It’s most important to keep the wine away from sunlight, UV lighting, and fluorescent lighting. You can, however, use an LED light which doesn’t affect the photosensitive compounds in wine.
Red wine is more affected by light than white wine. (You may have already noticed that red wine, in particular, is sold in bottles that are tinted to a darker color.)
Vibrations also disrupt the compounds in the wine. The compounds affect its tastes and aromas, so it is important to keep wine bottles stationary.
Despite all these strict conditions, you can still liven up your wine storage area by adding some wine-themed wall decor. This will not only enhance the ambiance and highlight your upcoming special moment, but enlivening the space will remind you to prioritize proper storage conditions.
When you are planning your wedding and considering buying much wine at once, check that you have adequate conditions and space for storage. It is just a matter of ensuring that certain external factors like light, temperature, and humidity don’t interfere with the wine during the storage period.
You’re now ready to enjoy the big day with delicious wine from perfectly stored bottles. Congratulations!
Guest Author, Kevin Fagan, is a food & travel writer, based in New England with experience in the catering industry. He is always on the lookout for the trendiest food spots and bars on his travels and also likes to keep his finger on the pulse of the latest news in the world of catering & restaurants.
Cheers! ~ Cindy
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