A lot of people in Orange County, California are getting into the hobby of collecting wine.Wine needs to be stored in a custom wine cellar in Orange County, California, that can provide the ideal temperature for it to mature tastefully. Learn about how the temperature inside a residential custom wine cellar affects wine.
The Relationship Between Wine and Wine Cellar Temperature
When people talk about wine storage, the first thing that comes into their mind is temperature. It’s safe to assume that everyone knows that wines need to be cold to be properly enjoyed. Aside from a cool serving temperature, wines also need to be kept in a cool storage temperature. In fact, temperature is the most important factor in the storage and aging of wine. This is why your wine collection should be kept in a residential custom wine cellar in Orange County, California.
Heat is the worst enemy of wine. In fact, this is the reason wine bottles are generally dark tinted: to protect wine from exposure to UV light, which is a source of heat. UV light damages wine by causing the degradation of its stable organic compounds. These organic compounds are responsible for the aroma, flavor, and structure of wine. It is imperative that wines be kept in a wine storage room that has a cool temperature (of 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit) with minimal to no fluctuations. To make sure that your wine cellar is able to meet your wine collection’s needs, you need to have an efficient wine cellar cooling unit installed.
Although 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal range widely accepted for wine storage, many wine experts still disagree on what the ideal range really is. 55 degrees Celsius the widely acceptable temperature level, because it makes historical sense to most people. In the past, wine storage in Europe was practiced in caves, where the natural underground temperature was around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, the “ideal” level is actually there due to regional custom and not necessarily scientific study.
What Happens When Wine is Stored in a Temperature Outside the Ideal Range
If your wine cellar is not capable of keeping your wine collection in a stable temperature suitable for aging wines, your wines are in danger. The following are the things that happen when your wines are stored outside the ideal temperature range:
- Wine Ages Prematurely as Temperature Increases
If you store wine in a temperature higher than the ideal range, it will age faster than it should. Wine aging is a process that should happen gradually, because speeding it up will cause the wine to taste like vinegar. If your wines are stored at 91 degrees Fahrenheit, for example, they will age 50 times faster than if they were stored at 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
-
Undesirable Chemical Reactions will Take Place
Wine that ages prematurely is bad as it is, but the problem does not end there. Another concern is that higher temperatures will result in undesirable chemical reactions taking place. Speeding up the maturation of wines will cause a bad effect on the bouquet of a wine as it ages. Keeping wines in very high temperatures for even relatively short periods of time can lead to nasty chemical reactions that produce foul odors and tastes.
What are the Indicators of a Heat Damaged Wine?
How can you tell if the wine in your residential custom wine cellar is damaged by heat? Here are two of the things that you should look for:
-
Check the Color of the Wine
You will know heat damaged wine from regular wine because of the color. In fact, color is the most important indicator of a heat damaged wine. Even without tasting the wine, you will know if it has gone bad. Premature browning of wine can be an indicator of oxidation due to heating. A brick edge in a young red wine is a telltale sign that oxidation has occurred due to excessive heat.
-
Taste the Wine
An altered flavor is an obvious indication of a heat damaged wine. Since Sherry is an oxidized wine, you can tell that your wine is heat damaged if it has a sherry-like taste.
The Ideal Storage Solution in Orange County, California – Residential Custom Wine Cellar
A genuine wine enthusiast knows how important it is to invest in an effective wine storage solution in Orange County, California. If you truly love your wine collection, you want to make sure that you keep it in a place where it is provided with the ideal wine storage temperature, as well as other wine storage requirements. Among the various kinds of wine storage solutions in Orange County, CA, a wine cellar is the most ideal.
It is always better to have your wine cellar constructed in your own house. A residential wine cellar provides the convenience of accessing your favorite wine any time you want.
Having a custom designed wine cellar is also recommended. Your wine cellar is the place where you will store your beloved wine collection. Therefore, if you want to show off your wine collection to your guests and friends, you will have to show them your wine storage room, too. You’ll want to make sure that your wine cellar is designed to represent your style. Custom wine cellars are designed according to how your want them to look. Moreover, with custom wine cellars, you can make sure that the design of your wine storage room compliments the existing décor in your home.
Coastal Custom Wine Cellars – Trusted Wine Cellar Designer in Orange County, California
Coastal Custom Wine Cellars is a well known wine cellar design and construction company in California. They are reputable for creating beautiful wine cellar designs, that range from simple to extravagant. Moreover, all of their wine storage solutions are effective in providing wines with the ideal storage conditions. Coastal is known for consistently meeting their client’s satisfaction.
Have your dream residential custom wine cellar designed by Coastal Custom Wine Cellars today! For more information about Coastal and their products and services, contact them today at +1 (888) 735-8889!