In order to keep wine in perfect conditions you must take into account humidity, temperature, storage ability, light levels and the absence of smells. With these factors in mind the perfect location is usually half buried or fully underground.

 

However, it must be remembered that many wine aficionados live in flats and not everyone has access to a cellar. The perfect location must therefore be somewhere as far as possible from the smells of the kitchen and the bathroom, because high temperatures and odours may contaminate wine. The living room is also net an option because wine is susceptible to vibrations and noise and this can cause what is known as "bottle sickness". The ideal place is therefore a quiet room free from odours, a store room, an attic or else under the staircase if you only have a small number of wines to be drunk in a short period of time. The easiest option is to choose a fresh interior room, switch off the radiator and try to keep the temperature around 17�C all year round. One idea is to cover the walls with thermal insulation or else install air conditioning at a level of 1,500 BTUs.

 

Basic maintenance rules
Wine should be conserved at a temperature of between 10-17�C, ensuring that the temperature does not fall below 7�C in winter, or rise above 20�C in summer. Also important is that the temperature does not fluctuate more than 3�C because this can cause unwanted aromas, and the humidity level should be 75-80%. The area where the wine cellar is placed must also be well ventilated, but with air vents that can be closed when necessary. Air circulation should be gentle, without currents, to ensure that no negative aromas and flavours are brought to the wine.

 

Light is not an ally for wines, since it can cause long term oxidation. The area chosen must therefore be dark or in semi-darkness. Any artificial illumination should be subtle, such as portable lamps with carbon filaments or cold indirect lights.

 

The wine bottles should be removed from any cardboard packaging because the excessive humidity can deteriorate them. They should also not be piled on top of each other, since this means having to move other bottles when you want to pull out just one. It is better if they have their own individual space, in wine holders made of wood or any other material that does not convey heat and that they be placed in a horizontal position since this ensures that the wine bottles are in permanent contact with the cork and that they are easy to identify and handle. The exceptions to this rule are certain varieties of young white wine that must be kept in a vertical position.

 

If you want to ensure that this precious liquid is at its prime when it comes to sampling it, bear in mind that it is best to wait a few days before drinking the bottles stored in the wine cellar and that they should not be shaken at all before being uncorked.

 

One useful idea is to keep a register in which to note down every new purchase, specifying the type and name of the wine, year, date of acquisition and price. This will help you to keep a record of the number available, when to renew them and especially when the time is right to drink the wine in its prime. However, you should also bear in mind that a wine cellar is not a mere store cupboard. You should select exactly the right types to store in it since, for example, it makes no sense storing champagne or cava or full-bodied wines, which will not improve bottle quality. It is better to renew wine prematurely than to allow the bottles to age unnecessarily.

 

Problems of bad conservation
Creating a wine cellar in perfect conditions may at first be a little difficult. Excessive heat should be avoided because the wine may expand and be lost through the cork, which may age prematurely and cause the wine to have a shorter life. Cold is also to be avoided because if the temperature falls below 0�C it can endanger the wine's stability, forming tartaric deposits (unwanted sediments in the form of small crystals).

 

If the humidity levels are excessive, the cork may go mouldy and the label deteriorate. To avoid this they can be varnished or protected with cellophane. On the other hand, an excessively dry place can dry up the cork and cause the wine to evaporate, go off or turn into vinegar after entering into contact with air.

 

If you are lucky enough to have a cellar at home, this is the ideal place for your storing your wine, although you should install climate control, as these rooms can easily reach 20�C. Another option is a special wine cupboard available in different sizes and prices. Such cupboards have various shelves that .allow the wine to be stored in perfect conditions, with different areas at different temperatures. The red wine is thus stored at the top, where the temperatures are around 17�C. The roses are stored below at 12�C, while the whites and sparkling wines are stored at the bottom at temperatures between 5 and 8�C.