| Wine asset management, as serious wine collecting | | | | country should also include sturdy shelving that is |
| and storage has come to be known, is available in a | | | | bolted securely to floors and walls and specifically |
| variety of configurations depending on what a wine | | | | designed to protect the wine in the event of an |
| lover's needs are. Storage options include vault-like | | | | earthquake. If a facility also has a back-up generator |
| facilities where a customer's wine has a room all to | | | | system, you will have extra assurance that even |
| itself, facilities that catalog and store wines all | | | | during a power outage; your wine will be maintained |
| together in a cave or warehouse, decorative custom | | | | at the proper temperature. |
| racks and cellars for the home and even wine | | | | Other Storage Options |
| storage lockers at local restaurants. | | | | For wine collectors who want to keep their collection |
| When deciding on how to store your wine, consider | | | | close to home, the sky's the limit when it comes to |
| the following: | | | | personal storage containers, racks, cooling systems |
| How long will your wine need to be stored? | | | | and cellars. If cost is no object and sufficient space is |
| There are many reasons to store wine, and the | | | | available, there are companies that specialize in |
| longer you plan to store it, the more important | | | | building home wine cellars. Of course, this is the most |
| environmental conditions are. Some wine lovers store | | | | expensive option and should only be considered if |
| wine with a long-term investment in mind while | | | | one is certain they will not be moving anytime soon. |
| others, such as wineries, may just be looking for a | | | | If properly designed and constructed, the home wine |
| temporary space while their own storage facilities are | | | | cellar can be a source of great enjoyment, but like |
| full. | | | | many home improvements, the cost of construction |
| The type of wine you are storing also plays a part in | | | | is unlikely to be recovered if the home needs to be |
| length of storage time since many wines change and | | | | sold and may limit its appeal to future buyers who |
| become more complex over time. Modestly priced | | | | are not wine collectors. |
| wines generally improve more in the short-term, while | | | | There are many home refrigeration units on the |
| finer wines that have come from quality fruit, | | | | market for storage of wine, but most of these are |
| harvested at the peak of ripeness and sugar levels, | | | | of rather limited capacity and unlikely to meet the |
| and are processed appropriately, will develop more | | | | needs of a serious collector. However, these units |
| complex flavors, intense aromas and deeper colors | | | | can be a good part of a storage solution - allowing a |
| over many years assuming they are stored under | | | | small sampling of the collection to be kept at the |
| the proper conditions. | | | | home while the bulk of the wine is stored off-site in |
| How important is consistent temperature, humidity | | | | a secure facility. |
| and lighting? | | | | A final option is the installation of built-in or free |
| At a lower temperature wine develops more slowly, | | | | standing wine rack in a room of the home. The |
| which allows it to reach and maintain its peak drink | | | | problem here is that the wine will not be stored at |
| ability. If wine becomes too warm, certain aspects | | | | optimum conditions since most people do not want |
| may mature and decline before others have been | | | | to maintain their home at 55 degrees. Thus, for |
| optimized. A temperature-controlled facility is a must | | | | valuable wines, this should only be a short term |
| for collectors who will be storing their wine over a | | | | solution for wine ready to be consumed in the near |
| long period of time. The industry standard for wine | | | | future. |
| cellaring is 55-57 degrees. | | | | For collectors of valuable wines with long term |
| Humidity levels are important as well. High humidity will | | | | potential, the best solution is probably a combination |
| cause mold and mildew, which can damage a wine's | | | | of off-site storage in a secure facility with ideal |
| label and foil. But too little humidity can cause corks | | | | temperature and humidity conditions, with some small |
| to dry out, shrink, break the seal and ultimately spoil | | | | amount of temperature-controlled storage in the |
| the wine. Humidity of between 60-70% is optimal and | | | | home for those wines which are ready to be |
| is the industry standard for cellar storage. | | | | enjoyed at the peak of perfection. |
| How important is security, privacy and accessibility? | | | | By having a proper wine storage facility at your |
| If you are storing valuable wine and want to rest | | | | disposal, it is possible to buy cases of wine when |
| easy, you may want to choose a facility that has | | | | they are first released and store them until they |
| individual lockers, state-of-the-art alarm systems at | | | | reach their peak. This can save significant cost |
| the facility, and on each individual locker, on-site | | | | compared to buying such wines aged to perfection |
| surveillance cameras and even a 24-hour, on-site | | | | (if they can even be found), and some collectors can |
| security guard or residing resident manager. Also, a | | | | sell the wines they have aged under perfect |
| fire sprinkler system in the building would be | | | | conditions and make a profit to fund further |
| reassuring. | | | | acquisitions of fine wines. Enjoy! |
| Secure wine storage facilities located in earthquake | | | | |