Storing wine for a long period of time takes patience, perseverance, and a knack for determine which wine is worth aging. Young wines are aged to provide a smoother, more pleasant and consistent aroma, taste and finish. Most wines are bottled for drinking immediately or within a couple of years. Especially white wine, however, there are some white wines that age well - a potent Chardonnay or sweet Riesling for example. A good aging wine is determined by using three simple rules of sight, smell and taste. For a white wine, look through the glass, is it gold or yellow or have a green tint? Tilt the glass on its side against a white piece of paper and look straight down. Does it have a green hue? If so, it is one indicator that this wine needs to age. Does the wine contain huge fruit or citric aroma or is the taste highly acidic or sweet? If so, it may be a candidate for aging.

The tell tale signs a red wine is a good candidate for aging is an opaque appearance with a pink outer ridge while being viewed on its side against a white background. A full, bold fruit, earth, or overpowering spice sent and strong full body flavor and excess tannin would indicate the wine would improve with age.

The best white wines to age are White Burgundy and Chablis (Chardonnay), Vintage Champagne, and Germany (Riesling). The best red wines are from Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot), Burgundy (Pinot Noir) and Rhone (Syrah) in France, Piedmont (Nebbiolo) and Tuscany (Sangiovese) in Italy, high end Australian (Grenache) and California Reserves (Cabernet Sauvignon and Meritage).

Treated properly, premier wines will provide immense pleasure by tantalizing your sense of sight, smell and taste. Treated improperly, you will be using it as a marinade or meat tenderizer. Heat, light, oxygen, vibration, extreme cold, and changes in temperature are all distractions that your aging wine will not tolerate. Place your wine in a temperature controlled environment on its side, or upside down, to keep the cork moist and minimize oxygen from entering the bottle.

The key to storage is understanding how long you plan to age the wine before it is enjoyed. If you plan to drink your white wine this evening, or over the next couple of months, place it in a standard refrigerator until you are ready. If you plan to drink your red wine this evening, or over the next couple of months, a Wine Rack in a cool, secluded area of the room will work fine. Wine racks come in all shapes and sizes including freestanding and wall mounted, decorative displays. It is also acceptable to place your wine in a clothes closet away from sunlight, traffic and heat for short-term storage. Work to maintain room temperature as low as possible. If you're hot, so is your wine.

If you plan to store your red or white wine for six months or a year, a temperature and humidity controlled Wine Cooler will be in order. Wine coolers take the form of small beverage lockers, under counter storage refrigerators or full sized, double door units. Many have dual controls for red and white storage. Again, for six months to a year, a temperature of 60° will accommodate both red and white wines. Serving the wine, is when the temperature difference is essential. White wines are typically served chilled. Red wines are typically served at room temperature, 65 to 72°. If you plan to serve your white wine directly from the wine cooler, you may want to investigate a dual climate control unit.

A more eloquent method of cooling wine, and promoting your wine as a centerpiece, is with a Credenza or glass front Wine Cabinet. The cabinet is also a piece of fine furniture that can accentuate any room. They are typically built of fine wood with French style glass doors to highlight the treasures stored within. Again, the cooler should be out of direct sunlight and in the coolest area of your house. You will need to spend some coin to get an appropriate credenza or wine cabinet. They will typically start at $2000 and go as high as $5000. Wine needs to stay cool, so you will essentially have a refrigerator in your living room. Make sure it is quiet and energy efficient, so it is compatible with your other living quarters.

If economic bulk storage is your interest, a wine cellar is your calling. If you purchase a Wine Cellar Box, a Walk In Wine Room, or build a traditional Wine Cellar in your basement, or other cool area of your house, the result will be maximum wine storage for your money. Cellars are used mainly for aging wine many years at a constant 54-58° F. The wine box is typically a large solid door unit with a cooler / humidifier with maximum bottle capacity. A standard wine cellar box will hold 300 bottles and cost about $1800. A walk-in wine room can store up to 2600 bottles for about $5,000. No frills with this unit just wine storage. A built in cellar can be simple or elaborate. In either case, once the room is enclosed and cooling unit installed, the wine racking is relatively inexpensive and efficient.

To help find your perfect wine cooler or cellar, visit: IWA - Wine Cellars