In a friend’s kitchen, on top of a piece of furniture, perfectly placed in a splendid wooden design object, a bottle with a well-known label peeped out. It was a Solaia from a couple of decades ago.

It was just a pity that we were in the middle of July, there was no trace of air conditioning and the bottle was partially exposed to the sun: practically like being in a torture chamber!

Certainly, you don’t need to have the ancient quarries of Reims or cold rooms worth thousands of euros to store wine in the right way, so that its life cycle develops on a regular basis. Let’s not forget that wine is a “living” drink and follows phases of youth, maturation and decay.

By following these few points, our wine will find itself in the best environment and will then be able to give us great satisfaction:

– Avoid direct exposure to the sun. Ultraviolet rays can damage aromas and taste of wine, making them unpleasant.

– Cool environment at constant temperatures and humidity. Sudden changes in temperature (both towards heat and towards cold) are to be avoided if we do not want to compromise it. Proper humidity, on the other hand, will prevent the cork from becoming too hard while minimizing the evaporation of the wine. Be careful not to overdo it, otherwise we risk the formation of mold (> 80%).

– Position of the bottle: horizontally or slightly inclined downwards. It is important that the cork always remains wet with the wine with the aim of preventing it from drying out.

– Air quality. Wine is a “living” drink: through the cap it “breathes” the air of the environment where it is placed, with a consequent impact on aromas and flavor. Try putting a bottle along with some cheeses that are maturing if you want to experience this point 😊.