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| James Halliday wine cellar tips |
| Help your wine collection age gracefully with some tips from an expert. |
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The scents, colours and flavours of a wine tell its life story. From one glass it is possible to read the wine's age, where it was grown and the type of vine used. It is also possible to tell if the wine was properly stored.
Once bottled, wine continues to mature, so proper storage is essential to help it do so gracefully. According to one of Australia's leading wine writers, James Halliday, "a cellar may be humble or grand, large or small."
James Halliday has published more than 30 books and 2000 newspaper and magazine articles in relation to the wine industry. He is wine consultant to David Jones and Ansett and writes a regular column in The Australian newspaper.
James' experience with grape growing and winemaking began in 1970 when he co-founded Brokenwood, in the Hunter Valley. During the next thirteen years he spent most weekends pruning and picking grapes. James' passion for wine was recognised in 1995 when he was awarded the prestigious Maurice O'Shea Award for outstanding contribution to the Australian wine industry.
In 1985, James and Suzanne Halliday established Coldstream Hills. It quickly grew to be one of Australia's leading small wineries, selling to 16 countries and with a reputation out of all proportion to its size. Coldstream Hills' steep, close-planted vineyards are a prominent feature of the Yarra Valley near Melbourne.
Unlike James, most wine lovers don't have a specially constructed, insulated room with wine racks and temperature control to store their precious collection. This doesn't mean wine buffs can't build a well-stocked cellar. According to James, all you need is a cool, dry, dark place that has a constant temperature and is free of vibration. As long as the conditions are right, a home wine cellar can simply be a closet, stairwell or corner of the garage.
In determining your cellar needs, it pays to overestimate the quantity of wine you will collect in coming years. It is surprising just how fast the cellar can fill once the wine bug hits. Serious wine collectors may want to invest in a fully outfitted wine cellar, buying racks, refrigeration units and humidifiers. Exceptional bottles can be stored in a wine warehouse (a good wine store can provide more information).
For the DIY home wine cellar, there are several factors to consider:
DARKNESS
Wine must be stored in the dark. Light penetrates wine bottles and can lead to premature aging. Ultraviolet rays damage wine so keep bottles well away from direct sunlight.
VIBRATION
Continuous movement can be a problem as vibrations take their toll on wine. Normal household vibration shouldn't be a problem but exaggerated vibration prevents the normal sediment in an aging wine from settling. To minimise vibrations don't choose a spot next to machines or motors (eg on top of the fridge!)
HUMIDITY
Humidity helps the cork stay airtight. If the cork dries, oxygen may seep into the bottle and age the wine or alter its flavour. A humidity level of around 70-75% will help prevent this (hardware stores often sell humidity gauges). To help humidify the air in your cellar fill several large dishes with water.
While humidity is important, too much is a bad thing. Romantics may be impressed by mouldy walls, dust and cobwebs but to the wine lover they spell danger. Excess humidity promotes the growth of micro-organisms that can spoil a wine or cause it to age prematurely. It can also destroy the labels. A household fan on low speed will help alleviate this problem.
TEMPERATURE
According to James, consistency of temperature is most important. Fluctuating temperatures are harmful, causing the wine to expand and contract, which hastens oxidation.
A consistent year-round temperature of 15°C is ideal but virtually impossible to maintain in the ever-changing Australian climate. If the budget doesn't allow for air conditioning, James recommends you store your wine in its cardboard carton (this is a great insulator). Wrapping bottles in a few sheets of newspaper offers further protection against temperature variation (and light).
RACKING
There are many ways of storing your wines (including leaving it in its cardboard box). Wooden crates filled with wood shavings or straw are great for storage and can be easily stacked on top of each other in place of shelving.
Wine racks can be custom-made to fit into the available space or modular units can be bought from specialty shops. Racks come in a variety of materials, including hollow cement blocks, woods, metals or a combination of these. No matter what material or design is chosen, racks must be sturdy and able to store bottles on their side (this helps keep the cork moist).
ORGANISING THE COLLECTION
James suggests cellars (or racks) are divided into two sections, each assigned to a different type of wine. General categories like red or white, dry or sweet are usually enough.
If you are using traditional racks, wipe the bottles with a clean dry cloth and place them with their labels facing up so they are easy to identify. It makes sense to put the wines you are likely to drink sooner within arm's reach and long-term agers behind or below them.
To keep track of the wines in your collection simply record details in a notebook or diary. You should jot down any information you may need down the track like where you bought the wine and the cost. Comments on the wines themselves are also worth recording. Notes on flavour, likes and dislikes could be useful when the time comes to restock your cellar. If your collection is valuable, a log book is important for insurance purposes.
MONITORING YOUR WINES
Wines keep their own calendar and will peak when their body-clock says it's time. They have a youth, a maturity and an old age, with the middle period being the best. A wine's mature stage will vary depending on type and can be brief or prolonged. The only way to monitor wines and determine when they are in their prime is to taste test. From time to time you should open a bottle from a group, taste it, and decide for yourself when it will be ready.
THE ADVANTAGES OF HAVING A WINE CELLAR
- A well stocked cellar is convenient when unexpected guests drop in.
- Matching suitable wines to different occasions is a lot easier when you know what's in stock.
- Fine wines are on hand so you don't have to search for them.
- Buying bulk means you can take advantage of sales.
- You can purchase wines at your leisure.
- Aging wines yourself allows you to buy them while they are still young and not hideously expensive (wine prices are going up all the time).
- Wines are stored correctly and not carelessly where they might spoil in their bottles as they do in many stores or warehouses.
- Classic wines appreciate in value and when bought wisely and stored well can be a great investment.
- Availability — a given vintage may be sold out when you go to look for it.
- Personal satisfaction of collecting and consuming fine and unusual examples of wine.
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More Info
James Halliday is one of Australia's most respected wine writers. His titles include:
Collecting Wine You and Your Cellar
Classic Wines of Australia
Australia and NZ Interactive Wine Companion (CD-ROM)
An Introduction to Australian Wine
The Pocket Guide to Wines of Australia
Wine Atlas of Australia and New Zealand
Available from all good book stores.
James Halliday's Winery, Coldstream Hills is located about 50 minutes drive from Melbourne.
Coldstream Hills Winery
31 Maddens Lane
Coldstream Vic 3770
Ph: 03 5964 9410
Fax: 03 5964 9389
www.coldstreamhills.com.au
Cellar door tastings and sales are available seven days from 10am to 5pm.
See James Halliday's web-site: www.jameshalliday.com.au
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Disclaimer
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