Contributed by Kevin Fagan: Having a wedding sees the couple of the day putting in a lot of work ahead of time so the ceremony goes off without a hitch. The list of what needs to be done seems to be endless – booking venues, buying clothes, and food tasting are just a few of the tasks that need to be checked off the couple’s to-do list.
One of the key parts of the wedding reception is the meals and beverages they are paired with. If you’re having your reception in a wedding venue in Northern California or in your backyard you can rest easy with our storage tips.
Why Wedding Venues Are Important
In addition to being the actual location of your ceremony, where you are hosting your wedding can also play an important part in your wine storage plans. This is because you have to take into consideration whether or not you need to transport the wine to the venue, if the venue has storage capacity for you to keep your wine, as well as the weather conditions for wine storage so it doesn’t go bad, among other reasons.
Selecting Your Wedding Wine
This should be the easiest part of the wedding, although, you need to take into consideration what wines you are pairing with your food, if you are having sparkling wine for the toast, etc. Either work with your caterer to select a wide variety of wines for your guests – at least one sparkling, one rosé, one white, and one red wine, or more varieties if you prefer.
You should also make sure that you select at least one semi-sweet wine, because not everyone likes dry wines. You can also consider serving one or two wine cocktails, such as a Bellini (made with sparkling wine and peach juice).
Another way to select your wines is to spend a fun day going wine tasting with your fiancé at a local wine region, or take a weekend holiday to a wine region. You can taste wines together, and then ask the wineries to ship them to your home or the wedding venue.
Storing Your Wines for the Big Day
The more varied the wines are, you will then need to take into account how to store the different wines according to their composition. There are some important considerations to store your wines so they can stay in mint condition.
While this is a temporary storage, it can also be useful in the event you want to create a collection during your wedded life together. If stored properly in certain conditions, the wine you have can actually be stored for decades. Following are some considerations regarding storing wine safely:
#1) Sound and vibrations affect wine compounds: Soundwaves can alter the composition of wine, and by extension, so do vibrations. In order to preserve the wine, they should be kept away from too much vibrations. They can affect the chemicals in the wine negatively. It would be best to keep it away from washing machines and stereos. Vibrations can cause sediment to mix with the wine among other taste and aroma affecting results.
#2) Light affects aromas: UV and fluorescent lights can affect the compounds in the wine and can cause them to lose both their aroma and taste. This is why red wine bottles are tinted a darker color. It will result in the formation of sulphurs. That isn’t to say you shouldn’t have any lighting in your storage area, options like LED lighting are fine for the wine.
#3) Direction to store your bottles: Wine bottles with a cork are to be kept horizontally in order to keep the cork moist. This is an important step to keep your wine for a long time. If it is kept upright, the cork will get brittle, and debris from it will mix with the wine. If you are opting for a screwcap wine then they can be kept upright, as it won’t affect them too much.
#4) Temperature and humidity: You need to regulate the temperature and humidity where you store your wine. Try to keep your wine at a stable 55ºF. If the temperature increases and decreases too much, too much temperature change will cause the cork to expand and contract. Make sure that the temperature never drops below 25ºF or rises higher than 68ºF. When it comes to humidity, it should be around 60 to 68% humid. You can increase the humidity of the room by placing a humidifier in the storage area.
Should You Serve Other Options Besides Wine?
Wine may not be the only alcohol you will be serving at your wedding, but the good news is you may be able to keep beer, spirits in the same storage area as your wine. Most alcohol needs to be stored upright, and if the bottle has a cork, just flip the bottle a few times a month to keep the cork moist and stop it from turning brittle.
If you are serving wine-based aperitifs or herbal-based liquors, these will suit being stored in a fridge rather than at the temperature you keep wine.
Also don’t forget to offer non-alcoholic options for people who do not drink alcohol, as well as for children. A selection of water, soft drinks, juices, and even non-alcohol wine, beers, and spirits are usually appreciated by guests.
Choosing the Right Space for Your Wine Storage System
If you don’t have a wine cellar, that is no problem at all. You can set up a dark room or pantry to share the space with the wine. You can also convert a cupboard or closet into a makeshift wine room.
Make sure to adhere to the above guidelines to keep the wine in great condition until the wedding. Keep your wine away from detergents and chemicals to prevent accidents that can cause contamination.
If you don’t have space at home, there are other storage options that you can think about using. Hire a storage unit close to the wedding venue, as a relative or close friend to store the wine for you, or have it delivered directly to the venue.
Conclusion – Here’s To Many Wonderful Wine Toasts on Your Wedding Day
Buying and storing wine for your big day is now one less thing you need to worry about. With our tips, you can convert a space in your home into a makeshift wine room to keep your wine in great condition until your reception. Once the wedding is over you can make it a full-time wine cellar now that you have the knack of the storage rules.
Author’s Bio: Kevin Fagan is a food & travel writer, based in New-England with experience in the catering industry. He is always on the lookout for the trendiest food spots and bars on his travels and also likes to keep his finger on the pulse of the latest news in the world of catering & restaurants.