Good cellaring makes for good wine!
There are many reasons to age wine. Cellaring your wine allows all the elements in a wine (fruit, acid, oak, and tannins) to integrate and develop a delicate balance, and optimize the wine’s aging potential.
Here are some tips to cellar your wines well:
Light
Constant exposure to light produces chemical reactions in wine that cause it to deteriorate. White wines and champagnes are the most vulnerable. Try to keep the cellar dark when not in use.
Humidity
A relative humidity of 50-70% is the acceptable range. Insufficient humidity may cause corks to dry out and lose their elasticity which lets air get into the bottle. Too much humidity (over 70%) can cause mold to grow on corks.
Temperature
A temperature of 12-15°C (54-59° F) is ideal for allowing the wine to age steadily without risking premature aging or oxidation. Most importantly a constant temperature is best, even if it is slightly outside of the ideal range.
Corks
Synthetic corks are great for long-term storage (1-5 years). They eliminate problems such as leakage and random oxidation. Agglomerated (recycled) corks are suitable for aging wines for up to one year.
Sulphites
Sulphites help to preserve the wine from spoilage and oxidation. Sulphite dissipates with age and is important for the long-term health of the wine.
Movement
It’s natural for wines (especially high-end heavy reds) to shed some tannin during aging. Vibrations can cause bottle sediment to stay suspended, creating either a haze or “floaties”.