Storing wine in Singapore's hot and humid tropical climate requires extra care to preserve its quality and flavor. Without proper storage, high temperatures and humidity levels can spoil even the best wines. Unfortunately space constraints also mean that only the lucky few have the luxury of an in built cellar.
So how do we preserve our precious bottles with these challenges in mind? Here are key tips to protect your wine:
Invest in a Wine Fridge
Temperature fluctuations are a wine's worst enemy. In Singapore, where temperatures often hover around 30°C (86°F), a wine fridge is essential. Set the temperature to 12°C–14°C (53°F–57°F), the ideal range for both red and white wines. Opt for a fridge with humidity control to maintain moisture levels between 60%-70%, preventing corks from drying out.
Store Bottles Horizontally
Lay wine bottles on their sides to keep the cork moist, which helps maintain a tight seal. This prevents oxygen from entering the bottle and oxidizing the wine, which would otherwise spoil its flavor. For large format bottles of sparkling wine, you might want to incline the bottles at about 45 degrees, making sure that the liquid still touches the cork, but that there is not too much pressure on the closure. Large formats often have more pressure for the same size cork. It would be so sad to see a jeroboam of 1990 Cristal leak out of the cork.
Avoid Direct Sunlight
UV rays can degrade wine by breaking down its compounds, leading to a flat and lifeless taste. Store wine in a dark, cool place away from windows. If your wine fridge has a glass door, ensure it's UV-protected. If a bottle is subject to light strike, it can develop aromas of rotten onion, cabbage or wet carboard.
Control Humidity
The tropical humidity in Singapore can affect wine storage, especially if you're storing it outside a dedicated fridge. High humidity may cause mold, while low humidity can dry out the corks. Humidifiers or wine storage cabinets with humidity control can help you manage this factor.
Be Wary of Vibration and Odors
Vibrations disturb wine's aging process and should be avoided. Keep your wine storage space free of appliances that vibrate, such as washing machines or stereos. Likewise, store your wine away from strong-smelling items like chemicals, as wine can absorb external odors.
By following these tips, you can ensure that your wines maintain their quality, allowing you to enjoy them at their best, even in Singapore’s challenging climate.
So where are the worst places to store your wine?
The refrigerator
Although it seems convenient, the regular kitchen fridge is too cold (around 1°C–4°C or 34°F–40°F) and lacks proper humidity control. These low temperatures can dull the wine's flavors, while the dry air dries out corks, risking oxidation. The constant opening and closing of the door is also an issue, as it means temperature fluctuates, and the light turns on an off. This can be detrimental to wine, particularly if wine is in a transparent bottle, which makes it more susceptible to light strike.
Next to the window
Direct sunlight can degrade wine’s flavor compounds and cause it to age poorly, leading to a flat, spoiled taste. The heat from sunlight can also raise the temperature inside the bottle, which can alter its chemical structure.
Near Appliances
Storing wine near heat-generating appliances like ovens, microwaves, or washing machines exposes the bottles to temperature fluctuations and vibrations. Both can prematurely age wine and affect its quality.
If you're unsure of how to protect your wines, and you're starting to accumulate a bit of a collection, we definitely recommend investing in a high quality wine cellar. Kadeka, Liebherr and Vintec are all great options. The city-state also offers some great storage facilities in places like Wine Vault and Wine Bank.
Want to learn more about wine? Are you confident about your wine tasting skills? Join us for a masterclass!
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