Wine Storage in a Storage Unit

No longer is a storage unit used for just the overflow stuff from home. More and more people are renting a unit and using it to store specialty items. European armories, glass antiques, Odd shaped shelving units, and wine can all be found in storage units. They are used because a shop doesn’t have enough floor space for display or an artist ran out of room in their studio or a restaurant needs the space for banquet tables and chairs. Many storage facilities are specializing in specific types of storage today as they expand their marketing efforts to a whole new target group of people. Many storage facilities offer certain types of amenities that are sought after such as temperature control, conference centers, computers and printing equipment and even wine cellars, featuring generator power backup and custom-made mahogany cabinets. But, wine storage is the latest and the greatest and a very interesting idea in storage unit creativity.

The wine storage trend is helping gain new business for facilities in all markets. And it is not offered with just a plain temperature controlled unit. People know wine and they want to find a place that they can store it in the way that wine is supposed to be stored. There are certain criteria to store wine so that it maintains its quality and flavor.

Temperature and humidity need to be ideal for perfect wine storage. Wine is ideally stored between 45 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature helps keep wine from aging too quickly. Because high temperatures can significantly change wine and temperatures that are too low can freeze it or dry out the wine bottle cork, 55 degrees the temperature goal.

And then, there is the humidity factor. 60 to 80% humidity keeps wine corks well-conditioned. Wine needs to be tightly sealed and air tight. But, it is the cork that the humidity will affect. Humidity has a big influence on the condition of the wine bottle cork. Keeping the humidity at a steady 60 to 80 percent, helps the cork stay moist and not dry out or even cracking. For if it does dry out or cracks, the wine inside will oxidize and turn to vinegar. If humidity control is not possible in a storage unit, then the wine bottles can be stored laying on their sides to keep the cork moist. This prevents the cork from drying out.

The darkness is a welcome sight for wine when it comes to a storage unit. White or red wines should all be stored in darkness. UV light has a significant influence on wine’s integrity. Sunlight, incandescent light, and fluorescent light can break down complex molecules in wine. Wines are stored in colored or dimmed glass bottles to keep the light out. Green, black, and bluish bottles protect wine from UV light. Keeping wine out of the light helps it maintain its flavor, color, and aroma.

Advertising that you offer wine storage at your facility can bring out a whole different storage client. If someone doesn’t have a wine cooler or a wine cellar at home, then storing their wine in the refrigerator can become rather cumbersome. Storage facilities can invest in units that are specifically designed for wine storage, but there are other ways to create the perfect conditions for wine. If climate controlled units are offered at a facility, then there are capabilities of creating the perfect atmosphere for storing wine. You can adjust the temperature on your climate controlled units’ thermostat, install shelves to lay wine bottles on their side and you have a wine cellar. But you also have to keep in mind that having temperature control doesn’t mean you’re controlling humidity, too. You need to make sure that you can control the humidity in your unit also. Climate controlled units should be interior units and doors to the outside should not be propped open allowing humidity and temperatures inside.

The following are some suggestions to help you prepare a climate-controlled unit for wine storage:

Try out the unit before you rent it. Experiment by setting the thermostat of a climate controlled units to 55 degrees and 60% humidity. Ask if you can monitor the conditions inside the unit while it’s empty for at least a week. See how much it fluctuates and see how stable the atmosphere is.

If things seem stable, then store a few bottles for a month or two before bringing your entire wine collection to storage.

Make sure that your unit remain dark. If there are lights in your unit, use the lowest lumen bulbs you can find.

Invest in shelving for your unit. They provide safety for the bottles and organization to the unit.

Ask the facility if they have back up generators if the electricity fails. You want to make sure that the wine will stay stable if there is a power outage.,

Storage unit facilities are changing with the times and storing wine in a unit is a great way to ease space at home and to keep your collection safe, cool and ready to serve.

Maddison Lake, Born June 4th 1986, began his journey as an entrepreneur at the age of 16 where he started, with two friends, a video production company; Led Moonlit Productions.