Raise your Glass - Proper storage

 Jason Clarke, Contributor

After that first pop of the cork, and enjoying that first glass of a delicious wine, what's next? What do you do with it? The problem is always storing what is left. Here are a few tips to properly store your wine before and after you have opened it.

"Over the holidays, we may have received quite a few bottles as gifts, and we may not be ready to enjoy them all at once. Proper storage is very important, to ensure and preserve all its original aromas. Here are a few simple tips.

Tip #1

Keep cool. Heat is not a wine's friend. Although we are always told to pour reds at room temperature, we tend to leave it on the kitchen counter. This may not be best. Higher temperatures can cause the wine to age more than it was intended, and consequently result in lack of lustre in the aromas. I always suggest, before opening, to store as far away as possible from the primary source of heat in your kitchen which is the stove. It is recommended that an unopened bottle be stored at 55° Fahrenheit. If wine is too warm, you don't get the beautiful aromas of the wine, but rather just alcohol. If you can afford it, a wine cooler is the best thing to ensure the perfect temperature of your favourite wines.

Once open, store in the fridge upright. If you have opened a bottle, its best to recork and store in the fridge. Exposure to air over time will cause the wine to break down and taste funny. This is a result of oxidation. Having it stand upright, reduces the surface area that air is acting on, thus allowing you to keep it a little longer - up to a few months.

Tip #2

Store out of direct sunlight. Sunlight causes the wine to, over time, break down prematurely. The regular bulbs won't affect them if you are storing on your counter, but you certainly don't want to leave it where the sun will shine on it daily.

Tip #3

Store sideways. Once you plan on keeping a bottle of wine for any period, provided it hasn't been opened, it is always best to store sideways. This prevents the cork from drying out and consequently breaking up when you try to open the bottle. A good wine rack will most certainly help with that and there are a variety of sizes and styles to fit your desired look and taste.

Tip #4

Be creative. If you think you may not finish a whole bottle, make wine cubes. When you're entertaining, add them to your cocktail for a simple, yet interesting, spin on what you might be serving your guests. The alternative is to cook with it. Cooking with wine can really make any meal more flavourful and superdelicious. I tend to use leftover red wine with beef or pork, especially if I plan on grilling or stewing it. You could also use leftover white wine like a chardonnay on chicken or seafood.

I have a natural love for red wines over whites, but nothing beats a Casul Garcia Vinho Verde on a hot beach day. It's a great light, white old-world wine - old world because it is from Portugal. It is truly refreshing, especially when served supercold. It has a very citrus taste and a little fizz which adds to its refreshing bite and makes it superyummy. Sauvignon Blanc which is easily found in the supermarkets, offers the same refreshing, light citrus-like tastes and goes really well with spicy Asian-style foods, but is just as delicious by itself. A great option for consideration is Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc or the Franciscan Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc.

If you follow these few simple tips, you can have and enjoy wine with all its aromas.

I am not an expert, merely a wine enthusiast sharing my thoughts and experiences. Feel free to share your own experiences at wineenthusiastja@gmail.com.