Wine Storage
"Some Thoughts from the Roaring Rock"

It's a question that is asked a lot. What is the ideal temperature for the storage of wine ..  where and how should it be stored ?
First of all understand the that great 'wine killer' is sunlight; either direct or reflected. Here is a simple and accurate answer – "Unless you have a large collection of fine wines that you are planning to 'cellar' for many years, everything will be fine if you put your wine in a dark, undisturbed place
with a fairly constant temperature." "The bottom of a closet is just fine." If you feel that your cellar is the best place ..depending upon the orientation of the house .. find the corner where the Sun never reaches.

Bottled wine is much more hardy than you think. We have 'lugged' it around with us over the years through several 'moves'.. on their sides, upside-down, flat, right side-up, in dampness, in heat, in cold and all over the place .. when opened and fearing the worst – they've been just fine !

Many of the wines that we drink today are meant to drunk right away. If you do get some wines that you may want to keep for a few years, it is critical you keep these away from sunlight and very high temperatures. The thought is that your wine is not going to turn to vinegar but rather the it will "age" more quickly than it otherwise would.

When you find a wine that you really enjoy .. buy another 2 or 3 bottles and put it away – all of a sudden, your "cellar" will be filled with wines worth collecting .. ones that you enjoy !

.. Carol's Tasting Tips ..

1. Color .. By holding your partially filled glass against a white background, you can observe the depth of color .. which may offer clues     about the wine.

2. Swirl .. The action of swirling releases more aromas into the air. After
a few swirls, put the glass to your nose and sniff. This olfactory sensing is one of the most important and overlooked aspects of wine tasting.

3. Sip .. Take a sip of wine and hold it in your mouth. As you move it around, focus on the weight, body, texture and flavors. After 10-15 seconds, swallow or spit the wine and consider the finish .. "Repeat" –
"Now you're tasting like the pros" !        

(With Respect to : D. J. Gaiter & John Brecher – Article in Wall Street Journal, 4/2/04)