Chateau Cantenac Brown, Grand Cru Classé from 1855, in Margaux was founded 200 years ago by a Scottish John Lewis Brown. Recognizable by its spectacular Tudor-style chateau, Cantenac Brown is still family owned today and has announced the construction of a new, unique winery made entirely of raw earth.
Storing red wine properly is sometimes a difficult task. The temperature at which red wine is stored is a crucial element to take into account to be sure to enjoy your delicious nectar. Indeed, whether it is in your wine cellar or once the bottle is opened, keeping red wine at the right temperature will ensure that it will last through time. In this article, the Chateau Cantenac Brown team gives you all the necessary techniques to do so.
The storage temperature of red wine in a cellar
The correct temperature for storing red wine is 12°C. This temperature ensures the perfect aging of your wine in order to bring it to maturity. A temperature that is too high accelerates the development of the wine too much and can lead it to deviations. On the other hand, a temperature that is too low prevents the wine from evolving and expressing its potential. Thus, the choice of this temperature is the ideal setting for your wine cellar.
Preservation of open red wine
Once opened, a bottle of wine has a very limited life span. It is only a matter of days before your wine can no longer be enjoyed with dignity. However, it is possible to preserve red wine once opened. To do so, you must place it in a cool place and away from light. If you have a physical wine cellar, you can place it inside. Some wine cellars allow you to place a few bottles vertically. You can put a bottle that has been opened in order to postpone the end of tasting for a few days.
In general, keeping red wine open requires a cool place (with a temperature below 20°C). A scullery can be a perfect location. Also make sure to protect your bottle from light.
Other techniques for preserving red wine
In addition to the temperature, there are other elements to keep your red wine well. Thus, we advise you to :
- Keep red wine away from light. Indeed, wine is sensitive to UV rays. UV rays greatly accelerate the aging process and can greatly deteriorate the quality of wine. Therefore, be sure to keep your wine away from light; whether it is for your wine cellar or once the bottle of wine is opened.
- Pay attention to the hygrometry of your wine cellar. The level of humidity, i.e. the hygrometry, is another crucial element for the good conservation of red wine. Therefore, the humidity level of your wine cellar should be between 60 and 75%. This level of humidity can be high and deteriorate the label. It would be a shame to damage the golden label of Château Cantenac Brown.
- Limit contact with oxygen. Wine fears oxidation caused by contact between the juice and oxygen. Therefore, to preserve your wine properly, you must protect it from oxygen. Therefore, remember to close your bottles properly and use the appropriate tools to empty the air.
You are now professionals in red wine preservation. You just have to let your grands crus from 1855 rest in your cellar and prepare yourself for magnificent tastings in the company of our food and wine pairings.