U-Line U-3060WCS-00, U-3090WCWCS-00 Ideal Wine Storage Considerations, Cork a Mystery on Its Own

The Cork: A Mystery on Its Own

Cork Presentation. The ritual of the presentation of the cork has a rich and fascinating history dating back to the late 1800’s. A phylloxera (root louse) devastation to the vineyards severely limited the supply of great wines. Restaurateurs would remove labels on inferior wines and replace them with labels from superior wines. This made it necessary for patrons to protect themselves by checking the branding on the cork to ensure that what they ordered was, in fact, what they were served.

When presented with a cork today, feel it to check for its integrity, read and match the branding on the cork to the bottle and set it aside. There is little to be learned from the cork. The proof is in the wine.

“Corked” wines. If you’ve ever had a wine that smelled or tasted of mold, you’ve experienced a wine that may have been “corked.” Today, between five and eight percent of wines are tainted with Trichloroanisole (TCA). This substance, found naturally in plants and trees, is imparted to the wine through the cork. Corked wines are a major concern for winemakers as it destroys millions of cases per year and puts reputations at stake. Amazing as it may seem twist-off caps may offer a better alternative and many great wineries in California, Australia and New Zealand are pioneering the trend.

Common Tasting Terms

Terminology	Description
Acidity	A critical element of wine that is responsible for
	preserving the wines freshness. Excess acidity
	results in an overly tart and sour wine.
Balance	A desired trait where tannin, fruit and acidity are
	in total harmony. Wines with good balance tend
	to age gracefully.
Body	The weight and presence of wine in the mouth
	provided by the alcohol and tannin level. Full-
	bodied wines tend to have this strong
	concentration.
Bouquet	The blending of a wine’s aroma within the bottle
	over a period of time, caused by volatile acidity.
Complex	A subjective term often used in tasting. A wine is
	said to be complex if it offers a variety of flavors
	and scents that continue to evolve as it develops.
Flabby	A wine that lacks structure, or is heavy to the
	taste, lacks acidity.
Full-Bodied	Wine high in alcohol and extract, generally
	speaking, fills the mouth, powerful.
Lean	Generally describes wines that are slim, lacking of
	generosity or thin.
Oaky	A desirable flavor imparted to wine if done in
	moderation. Most wines are aged in oak barrels
	one to three years, thereby receiving this toasty
	oak characteristic. However, if a weak wine is left
	in contact too long with an oak barrel it will tend
	to be overpowered with an oaky taste.
Tannin	Tannins are extracted from the grape skins and
	stems and are necessary for a well-balanced red
	wine. Tannins are easily identified in wine tasting
	as the drying sensation over the gums. Tannins
	generally fade as a wine ages.

Ideal Wine Storage Considerations

Temperature: The most important element about storage temperature is stability. If wine is kept in a stable environment between 40°F (7°C) and 65°F (21°C), it will remain sound. A small 1- 2 degree temperature fluctuation within a stable environment is acceptable. Larger temperature fluctuations can affect the corks ability to seal, allowing the wine to “leak” from the bottle.

Humidity: The traditional view on humidity maintains that wines should be stored on their sides in 50% - 80% relative humidity to ensure cork moisture and proper fit in the bottle. Contemporary wisdom suggests that the cork surface is too small to be impacted by humidity. Further the cork is sealed with a metal or wax capsule making humidity penetration impossible. The concept of a humid storage environment was derived from the necessity of wineries to maintain moisture in their cellars to keep wooden barrel staves swollen, preventing wine evaporation and product loss. In fact, vineyards estimate as much as a 10% product loss per year due to evaporation while wine is aging in the wooden barrels. Humidity, however, was not intended for the modern home cellar where wine is stored in glass bottles with sealed corks.

Light: UV rays are not only harmful to people, they are damaging to wines - especially those in clear bottles. Since oxygen molecules in wine absorb UV rays, wine should never be stored in direct light for long periods of time.

Vibration: Provided that sediment is left undistributed and particles are not suspended, vibration in a storage environment is not an issue. Wines can become flat or tired when voids and vacuums are created inside the wine bottle. In order to create voids and vacuums within a liquid, aggressive motion or shaking of the wine bottle would have to occur.

The Right Temperature for Wine

Temperature	Wines
Approximately 60°F (15°C)	Red
50°F - 55°F (10°C -12°C)	White
Approximately 45°F (7°C)	Sparkling

Wine Captain® Models - A Touch of Elegance

In 1985 U-Line was the first North American appliance manufacturer to develop a residential wine storage unit, the Wine Captain®. Each U-Line Wine Captain® model is designed to impress and inspire anyone with an interest in wine by providing cellar conditions in stylish, undercounter units. U-Line Wine Captain® models offer stable storage temperatures, a 50% internal relative humidity and protection from UV light rays. U-Line has the largest product offering available, making storing, presenting, and sharing your wine effortless and elegant.

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