Bauknecht WLMG 1015 Anleitung zur Fehlerbehebung PDF herunterladen (Seite 7)

INTRODUCTION TO WINE

Wine storage

A well-known characteristic of wine is that it can be

stored over time: in the correct location, white

wines can be stored for about two years after their

vintage although ideally they should be drunk within

one year. While light red wines can be stored for up

to two years, full-bodied reds will age well for ten

years and dessert wines even up to twenty years.

When you buy a bottle of wine, transfer it to your

wine cellar or other suitable place immediately.

There are three main factors that weigh on the

process from grape cultivation to harvesting and

fermentation: light, humidity and ambient

temperature. To ensure the taste of the wine

matures to its peak and the aroma remains

unaltered, it must be stored with the right

interaction of these three factors.

Storage location

Not everyone has a basement suitable for use as a

cellar. Technology has only recently come up with

an effective substitute for a natural cellar. Your new

wine cellar is a special appliance designed

specifically to hold and store wines properly.

Indeed, it should only be used for your favourite

bottles of wine, not for fruit, vegetables and tins. In

this way, you can store and age any kind of wine

properly even if you don

t have a natural wine cellar.

How to store wine

When storing your wine bottles, one golden rule

not to be overlooked is that they must be laid

horizontally or at an angle to ensure the wine keeps

the cork wet. Some say that this causes the classic

smell of “cork” in wine. In actual fact, keeping the

cork in contact with the wine enhances its elasticity

thereby guaranteeing its continued effectiveness.

Another important factor in storing wine is how the

bottles are arranged: the bottles should be

arranged at liberty by place of origin, type of wine,

area of production, winery or vintage, using the

catalogue labels provided if desired. Arranging the

bottles so that they can be easily identified and

selected prevents any accidental jolts which, like

vibrations, can unsettle sediments and alter the

visual appearance of the wine for some time.

Hence, try to move your bottles as little as possible,

allowing the wine to rest. Furthermore, don

t push

the bottles so far back that they rest against the rear

wall of the cellar as this would not only interfere

with the automatic defrosting function, the water

droplets collected during defrosting could also ruin

the bottle labels.

Bottle racks must be made from wood as this

effectively absorbs any vibrations and keeps bottles

away from the wall transmitting heat or cold.

In addition, the bottles of wine must be stored away

from substances or places with strong odours

which can be easily absorbed by the wine. To this

end, your new appliance has an active carbon filter

to absorb any impurities in the air.

Temperature and humidity

Temperature is a critical and vital factor during the

entire life cycle of wine; it determines how well the

wine develops when matured in the bottle. To

ensure optimal storage, the temperature must be

kept constant from 8° to 12°C. Rapid, wide

temperature swings must be avoided: when the

temperature is too high, the liquids dilate

accelerating the ageing process whereas

excessively low temperatures (below 4° - 5°C) can

cause the precipitation of tartrates; such an

imperfection would impair the pleasant appearance

of the wine. In the extreme event that the

temperature drops below 0°C, the wine would

freeze causing the cork to explode

Humidity is also crucial in optimal wine storage: dry

environments cause the cork to shrink whereas

overly damp locations cause mould and harmful

microorganisms to form. Humidity must be kept

between 50% - 70%.

The cork

This is an essential part of the bottle: the quality of

the cork, selected by the wine-maker, is very

important in the ageing process of the wine itself.

The conditions of the cork, including corks in

bottled wine, depend solely on the process and

storage standards used by the manufacturer or

bottler.

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