The Best Way to Protect Your Wine and Other Alcoholic Beverages in Self Storage

10/11/2021 How To Guides / Organization Tips / Storage Tips

Protect Wine in Self Storage

There are several ways to protect wine in self storage. If you’re solely interested in storing your wine collection, there are a number of self storage facilities that offer specialty storage units that are properly equipped for that purpose. On the other hand, if you’re a restaurant or liquor store owner who needs storage space for beer, and other alcoholic beverages, as well as wine, all of your beverages will do well with that type of storage or any climate-controlled unit.

After you’ve found the self storage facility that fits your needs, check with the facility manager to be sure that storing alcoholic beverages other than wine is not in violation of your lease. 

Once you’ve determined that you can store these items, you want to ensure that you have the right storage so that your beverages are not compromised by the wrong environmental conditions.

How to Protect Wine in Self Storage

Protect Wine in Self Storage

What to Look for In Alcoholic Beverage Storage

Transporting Your Wine

Before you store your bottles, you have to move them. Here are a few tips to protect your alcohol inventory or wine collection in transit.

  • Use boxes that are the same size as the bottles you are moving. Arrange these smaller boxes snugly in a larger box or container for easy shipping. There are a variety of wine shipping containers available at Uline.
  • Keep the climate in mind. Heat is a major enemy of alcoholic beverages. Depending on the distance you’re moving, you may want to transport your beverages at night to keep the bottles from overheating and destroying the flavor.

Proper Temperature

Whatever type of alcoholic beverage you need to store, it’s crucial that climate-controlled storage be maintained at 45 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, with a humidity level of 60 to 80 percent. Wine and other alcoholic beverages will be subject to losing their balance and flavor if temperatures get close to 70 degrees.

If temperatures become too low, a cork can freeze and crack, allowing air into a wine bottle, oxidizing the wine. Oxidized wine tastes like vinegar. That’s great if you enjoy drinking vinegar, but not so good if you’ve invested in a very special bottle.

Protect from Leaks and Breakage

If your chosen facility isn’t equipped with its own wine racks, you may want to use your own miniature wine racks, wine storage cubes, or wine crates. Storing bottles on their sides is not only space-efficient but, as mentioned above, will prevent corks from drying out. Other alcohol bottles should be stored upright to minimize leakage. 

Protect each bottle with bubble wrap or a plastic bottle protector. Plastic crates are preferred over boxes because they inhibit moisture, and they are better able to hold more bottles. Place only one layer of bottles in each crate and cover with several sheets of bubble wrap for extra cushioning. Never store bottles of spirits like gin, tequila, vodka, whiskey, and rum on their sides. Some of these liquors can degrade the cap and cause leaks.

Keep it Dark and Quiet

Did you ever wonder why good wine is typically stored in green, black, and bluish bottles? Light exposure causes chemical changes in alcohol, which is the reason that many bottles are dark in color. Be careful to keep lights off when you’re not active in your unit.

Dark-colored glass protects wine and other alcoholic beverages from UV light, but they can only do so much. They should be protected from sunlight, incandescent light, and fluorescent light to keep the complex molecules from breaking down. Wine does best in a quiet environment. Too much movement or vibration can cause a gritty texture from disturbed sediment. Keep it away from too much foot traffic.

If you’ve ever experienced beer that tastes stale and smells “skunky,” you can thank light. Exposure to direct light won’t cause the beer to spoil, but it will result in beer that tastes and smells like a skunk. Keep your beer in the dark.

Takeaway

When searching for a place to store your wine, beer, and other alcoholic beverages, look for a reputable, secure, climate-controlled facility with an appropriately sized space for the number of bottles you’re storing. Spend some time discussing options with your storage professional. Have your questions and concerns addressed so that you feel comfortable with the arrangements. Check out our locations to find a facility near you!

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Previous Post Kids Away at College? – You Need a Self Storage Unit

Next Post What Questions Should You Ask Before You Rent a Self Storage Unit?