Storage and Service of Wine

Storage:

Storage of wine is very important because if not  stored incorrectly it can affect the flavour  and in severe cases the wine can become faulty.

The following points should be followed while storing wine:

  1. Temperature:

 It should be kept at a cool temperature. The ideal temperature for storage is somewhere between 10°C and 15°C. If the is exposed to a high a temperature for long period of time, it may get spoiled and develop off-flavors. If it is exposed to temperatures that are too cold, it can freeze and expand, causing the cork to be pushed out of the bottle to crack; this will allow more oxygen to be exposed to the wine.

  1. Temperature Stability:

It must be kept in an environment where the temperature is constant and stable. An acceptable level of temperature fluctuation is said to be about 2 to 3°C (5°F) around the average once per year.

  1. Storage:

It should be stored in a horizontal manner to ensure that the cork remains in contact with the wine as if the cork dries out, it will let air in the bottle which will make the wine stale. Also if the cork is not in contact with wines it may get dry which will either cause sediments in the wine or the cork breaking while opening the bottle.

  1. Darkness:

It must be kept in a dark place as strong sunshine and bright artificial light  can heat the wine and make it become stale and old.

  1. Humidity:

Keep the humidity between 60 – 80%. High humidity keeps the cork from drying and minimizes evaporation. Don’t allow the humidity to go too much over 80%, because it can encourage the growth of mold and cause the labels to loosen.

  1. Ventilation:

 Keep the wine away from anything that has a strong smell, as wines tend to breathe and the smell will go through the cork and spoil it. Good ventilation may help prevent musty odors from entering it.

Serving temperature:

Different wines need to be served at different temperatures

Sparkling / Sweet 4 – 6 C
Light White / Rose 6 – 8 C
Heavy White 8 – 12 C
Light Red 12 -14 C
Heavy Red 15 – 18 C
Fortified 14 – 17 C

Storage:

Wine Cooler/Refrigerator:

This will generally keep the temperature constant, as long as you’re not constantly opening and closing the door of the Cooler. Good humidity levels are maintained as well. Some have different temperature zones for different wines.

*Al Things Nice represents many Wine cooler companies and we can fulfil all your wine cooler

Glassware – Wine

There is a large range of glasses that can be used for service of wine which comes of different shapes and sizes with each designed to emphasize a particular wines characteristic. The use of the correct wine glasses enhances the drinking experience. There are different types of glasses the common few are:

Red wine

red wine

Red wines are best served in larger sized glasses which allow air to come in contact with the wine at a larger surface which helps to develop the aromas and flavours, also aromas are easier to smell when the wines are swirled around.

White and Rose wine 

white wine

White and Rose wines require medium sized glasses so that the fresh, fruit characteristics are gathered and directed towards the top of the glass

  Sparkling wine

sparkling wine

Sparkling wines are served in Flute glasses. Flute is a stem glass with a tall, narrow bowl. This shape enhances the effect of the bubbles allowing them to travel the larger area of the wine before bursting out at the top of the glass which helps the bubbles to stay for a longer period of time

Fortified wine

Fortified wine glass

Fortified wines should be served in small glasses to emphasise the fruit characteristic rather than the alcohol

 Preparing glassware

Clean glassware is of the uppermost importance as even the slightest taint can ruin the wine. Even glass washing machine ‘clean’ glasses need to be checked to make sure no detergent residues remain in the glass as they can give strange flavours to the wines, where in case of sparkling wines it may make them lose their sparkle quickly.

Blue Label

blue label

Blue Label: Johnnie Walker Blue Label is an unrivalled masterpiece. It is an exquisite blend made from some of Scotland’s rarest and most exceptional whiskies. Only one in every ten thousand casks has the elusive quality, character and flavour to deliver the’ remarkable signature taste of Johnnie Walker Blue Label .

Region: Kilmarnock

Nose: Notes of oak, spice, dried fruit, Berry, aniseed along with hints of cedar and a touch of spice and citrus.

Palate: Supple and balanced. Good toffee and Chocolate flavours with hints of grass and malt.

Finish: Floral, oaky, good length, urged on by a plume of very well-kept, highland style smoke. Dried fruit, spice, honey.

Glenfiddich 18 YO

4159-601glenfiddich18yearold

Glenfiddich 18 YO: Truly exceptional single malt, the result not just of eighteen years of care and attention, but of whisky-making craft and knowledge passed down through the generations. Spanish Oloroso wood and American oak to mature this rich, intriguingly fruity and robust oak expression, but there are many more reasons why this expression is special.

Region: Speyside

Barrels: Oloroso wood and American Oak

Nose: Aromas of grapefruit, baked apples, hints of chocolate and cinnamon.

Palate: On the Palate notes of dried apricot, cinnamon, toffee, ginger and dry Sherry.

Finish: Medium finish with touch of salted toffee.

Balvenie Doublewood 17 YO

balvenie_17_doublewood

The Balvenie Doublewood 17 YO is consecutively matured in two different types of cask, a process often referred to as ‘cask finishing’. This technique is at the heart of The Balvenie DoubleWood – it sees the whisky matured first in American oak barrels, which impart soft sweet vanilla notes, before being transferred to European oak sherry casks, where the second cask ageing adds rich spicy flavours and a depth and fullness of flavour

Region: Speyside

Barrel: American Oak, European Oak.

Nose: It is elegant and complex with vanilla, honeye and a hint of green apple aromas.

Taste: On the palate it is sweet with dried fruits, sherbet spice, toasted almonds and cinnamon, layered with a richness of creamy toffee notes and traces of oak and deep vanilla.

Finish: The finish has flavours of vanilla oak, honey and spicy sweetness.

Monkey Shoulder

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Monkey Shoulder: The term “Monkey Shoulder” harks back to our whisky making heritage. It’s a reference to a condition that malt-men sometimes picked up while working long shifts, turning the barley by hand. It had a tendency to cause their arm to hang a down a bit like a monkey hence the name.

The Whiskey is created by combining single malts from three of Speyside’s finest distilleries. The result is a smooth, creamy, supple and very malty Scotch which works superbly well neat, over ice, or in whisky cocktails (where it really excels).

Region: Speyside, Scotland

Barrel: Ex – Bourbon cask

Nose: This Whisky is elegant and stylish with nose of marmalade, cocoa, spice and anniseed

Palate: Very malty, creamy delivery with a suggestion of berry fruit. Cloves and butterscotch, hot-buttered-toast and dried apricot.

Finish: Medium length, spicy oak and a hint of peppermint on the tail.

Aberfeldy 25 YO

aberfeldy-25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aberfeldy 25 YO: A limited edition 25 year old Highland single malt from Aberfeldy that was distilled way back when it was owned by Diageo, who eventually went to sell on in 1998, before being bottled in 2003.This very collectible rarity comes complete with original dark-wood presentation case and is one of just 150 bottles. On the nose it is creamy with some sherried fruit and a hint of smoke, the palate is sweet with a gentle peat and a faint hint of citrus.

Aberfeldy 18 YO

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Aberfeldy 18 YO: Aberfeldy’s 18 Year Old single malt Scotch whisky was originally launched for the Travel Retail Market. Presented in a bottle designed to fit in with the rest of the Aberfeldy redesign, this stylish single malt is a creamy, easy-going treat for the palate. Brimming with familiar notes of vanilla, buttermilk pancakes and stewed fruits, as well as warming oak notes from the fairly long maturation.