Confidence in your storage

What came first when you started you wine collection ... was it the first bottle worth saving, or a location waiting for bottles to fill it?

For me it was a great bottle without a home. A 2003 Zaca Mesa, Syrah, Black Bear Block. I repurposed a kitchen shelf and secured a wire rack in front to prevent that bottle, and those soon to come, from sliding out in case of an earthquake. A common occurrence at the time in the Central Coast.

Today I care more about temperature, humidity, light, and vibration than I do earthquakes. One could argue I spend more time obsessing about my storage conditions than the contents inside. Oh to have a proper basement cellar with natural cooling and humidity!

Wine collectors are forced to think about storage. If you aren't totally satisfied with your wine storage, it's worth a proper look. Think about your wine goals, your budget, and your plans for your current home or your future somewhere else.

A few tips:

• Find a location within your home that is wine friendly - cool, dark, spacious, and free

• A wine fridge is an excellent step in the right direction for short and medium term storage only

• Your wine storage may cost a similar amount, or more, to the contents inside

• If you're on a budget there are many second hand options of quality items

• If you're planning a remodel or a move, wine storage should be high on your list

• We all want a dedicated wine cellar, but knowing someone with a wine cellar is also nice

The confidence that your wine is safe may be worth more than most of its contents. If wine storage is on your mind, please share your questions. I'd love to hear them and do my best to help.

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Last night I opened a 19 year old bottle of Spanish wine. I was wrong, though, when I said I had it for 17 years. That was a typo. It's a 2007 Gran Reserva which means I couldn't have had it for 17 years (there are aging rules in Spain). The number I meant to type was 14 years. The wine was excellent and more elegant than expected. The aromas and taste were clearly evolving over the evening and I will finish it tonight with great curiosity. I was worried that it had a rough life (storage concerns!) but the cork was perfectly preserved, assuaging my fears of a bottle of spanish vinegar. The only regret is not having more bottles of it.

2007 Bodegas LAN Gran Reserva

https://sommo.app/s/g9ePh9Xk2AKv8aZH