The ideal cellar: ideas and tips for the dream cellar.

It is often said by enthusiasts and connoisseurs, “I have a thirty-year-old Barolo” or “tonight with friends I will open a fifteen-year-old Amarone” or “I have a Vertical of Soave from 1990”.

But how can one drink such old wines? Many will wonder. Others, smiling, will say that there are “fanatics” who exaggerate. Yet it is possible, and we assure you, as enthusiasts, that the greatest emotions are achieved when a wine manages to age well in the bottle.

To achieve good results, we cannot rely solely on the quality of the product; rather, the most important thing is to have the ideal cellar! How many say, “I will drink this wine in ten years” or “it's a bottle that cost me an arm and a leg, but I will keep it for my daughter's wedding…?”
Well, this can be said in certain cases. If your dream is to have a small cellar of your own, keep reading the article. The ideal cellar is not a utopia!

The ideal cellar: ideas and tips for the ideal cellar

While the arrangement of the cellar is more of a subjective matter, depending on the personal taste of the homeowner, there are basic principles that must absolutely be respected to ensure that wines are stored in optimal conditions. The chosen place must be ventilated, protected, dark, and clean, as well as quiet. 

Humidity

Did you know that in most cases, cellars have incorrect values for this parameter? This is, instead, the parameter to monitor most closely if you want the cellar of your dreams. 
It is one of the determining factors for the proper aging of wine: the hygrometer, an instrument for measuring the humidity level in a room, should hover between 70 and 80%, even better if it is closer to 80%. If it is lower, there is a risk that the cork will dry out on the surface and, through osmosis, absorb the liquid from the bottle. 
If air gets into the wine, it will oxidize due to the presence of oxygen, ruining the content and decreasing the quantity. Logically, we always and anyway consider the bottle lying down, horizontally.

Temperature

This is also a determining value that should be kept constant throughout the year, as it is a parameter that strongly affects the living particles of wine. Sudden temperature swings are detrimental to aging. Generally, the temperature of the ideal cellar should remain as close as possible to 10 – 14°C. So be careful about storage areas, be cautious with garages. Also, pay attention to home shelving in living rooms. If it is too hot, the wine evolves too quickly, fermenting. 

Light and odors

As we have already said, the ideal cellar must be dark. Light is, in fact, a form of energy and can accelerate the aging process, making it difficult to monitor the process of aging wine. Additionally, beware of strong odors: wine absorbs odors very quickly, and if you want to avoid unpleasant smells during tasting, it is best to store the bottles in a clean place with a "neutral" smell.

Ideal cellar: how to arrange the bottles

Now let's talk about the arrangement of the wines. As we have mentioned, the arrangement follows the owner's tastes, but even in this case, there are some small rules that are worth considering. 
First of all, the place must be very quiet and the bottles must be stable, without being exposed to shocks or vibrations. In environments that are not completely isolated, wooden shelves can help, as this material has pneumatic and sound-absorbing properties.

Otherwise, shelves of any material will do. Typically, bottles of sparkling and frizzante wines should be kept horizontally, laid down. Still wines should always be kept flat. All bottles should lie down with the label facing up, so that the name of the wine can be easily read in case it is being sought.
As for the floor of your ideal cellar, avoid concrete or compacted earth, as these are the ones that are more affected by water stagnation and thus humidity infiltration.
Better to have floors with a surface of gravel, which serves to contain stagnation phenomena.

So? What are you waiting for to build your ideal cellar? To start, take a look at our selection of wines. On the Spaghetti&Mandolino shop you can find delicious and fine wines. Try it to believe!

S&M