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Practical guide to the ideal wine cellar

What are the golden rules for creating an ideal wine cellar?

Wine is a living product, sensitive to the parameters of its surrounding ecosystem. Proper storage is a decisive factor in the enjoyment of wine in the future.

First of all, the cellar must be located in a place with a humidity level of between 70 and 80%, protected from external vibrations (movement due to construction work, car, bus, streetcar and metro traffic) and at a constant temperature throughout the year (between 12 and 14°), avoiding seasonal temperature shocks in summer and winter.

Then, the ideal cellar ensures total darkness to protect the wine from prolonged exposure to natural or artificial light, so as not to provoke the taste of light (an aromatic defect, with notes of cabbage and naphthalene). In fact, a chemical reaction between light and a wine vitamin, riboflavin, produces the taste of light and can thus alter the wine's aromatic profile. For cellar lighting, we recommend low-intensity bulbs. Furthermore, wine should not be stored near persistent odors (cooking, chemicals, paints).

It is also advisable to store bottles preferably in their original crate and in a horizontal position to maintain continuous contact between the wine and the cork, so that the cork does not dry out and fall into the bottle. According to the CIVC, champagne bottles can be stored both upright and lying down.