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Wine experts believe that wine can be stored in caves and underground cellars for hundreds of years. The ideal storage conditions are: cool, dark, humid and still surroundings. There are a few key points that needs to be kept in mind for the long-term survival and optimal aging of wine.

• KEEP IT COOL

The correct wine storage temperature is between between 7-18 °C (45-65 °F) , excessive heat wreaks havoc on a bottle of wine. Humidity is a very important factor which needs to be taken care of while storing wine. A higher humidity level helps to keep the corks from shrinking and allowing oxygen in, resulting in oxidation of the wine.

• KEEP IT DARK

Most coloured glass bottles of wine have UV filters incorporated into the bottle glass, but this doesn’t always offer full UV protection to the wine. If a wine bottle consistently comes under direct light, it usually affects the flavor of the wine. It also leads to premature aging. Typically, white wine are most sensitive to light , but red wine too get affected if they are subjected to excessive light all time.

• KEEP IT STILL

Although studies reveal that the refrigerator top and iron wine rack is one of the most sought after places to keep wine, but either way it is one of the worst places to keep wine because of the presence of the heat and the direct light. The constant or the consistent vibration is believed to wreck the wine quality.

• KEEP IT SIDEWAYS

By storing a wine sideways, it keeps the cork in constant contact with the wine. This not only keeps the cork moist, but also helps the cork to shrink and also allows the oxygen to seep into the bottle. When oxygen comes into direct contact with the wine, it starts to oxidize and the aromas, flavors and color all get spoiled.

The history of wine is believed to have an intriguing story of technical innovation. It is also being said that every individual bottle of wine have their own story to tell. These two aspects add greatly to wine’s fascination, but wine’s place in the cultural history is quite large and grander.

Wine was one of the first things that man created, and it has held a special place in many cultures, although no one really knows who made the wine first. According to experts and also the archeological evidence suggests that the earliest wine production came from sites in 6000 BC Mesopotamia( Southern Iraq).

Wine history also has a very close link with the history of agriculture, cuisine and humanity itself. With the passage of years, wine’s popularity spread to countries like Egypt, Greece, Rome and Spain. History suggests that the ancient rulers tried to keep this treasure a secret.

In Medieval Europe, following the decline of Rome, the Christian Church became a staunch supporter of the wine. It became a necessity for the celebration purpose of the Catholic Mass. Wine consumption became popularized from the 15th century onwards. Today, France has emerged as a leader in wine production.