How to store wine?

Among the factors that influence the experience of tasting a wine is undoubtedly its state of conservationin order to keep its characteristics intact and to enhance its bouquet of aromas when opened, it is essential to know where and how to store wine in the house while still sealed or once wine bottles have been opened.

 

How to store wine: factors to take into account

 

To store wine optimally at home, it is important to consider three aspects:

lthe temperature of the wine, the brightness of the room and the position of the bottle.

 

Temperature

Temperature plays an essential role: the temperature fluctuations or wrong temperatures can alter the organoleptic characteristics of wine and damage its olfactory, aromatic and taste characteristics, as well as delay or accelerate the ageing process.

Below 10° you risk the formation of small ice crystals while above 18° the wine may undergo rapid maturation, as well as the loss of its original characteristics. In the case of WHITE WINES we recommend a temperature of 10°- 12°C while for the red wines a temperature between 12° and 15°C.

 

Brightness

I sun rays are harmful to the wine bottle as they can trigger a oxidation process which compromises taste and quality.

That is why it is always recommended to storing wine in dark or semi-dark places and above all never to expose it to direct contact with sunlight or phosphorescent lights.

 

Location

Another factor to be taken into account is the bottle position. So how should wine be stored, horizontally or vertically? The advice is for bottles to be arranged in horizontal position to ensure that the liquid wets the cork so as to prevent the oxidation process from starting.

True connoisseurs know that the ideal position is not perfectly horizontal: the bottle should be further inclined by 5° with the cap facing upwards. Most wine cellars have, not surprisingly, a bottle rack with precisely this inclination.

 

 

Where it is best to store wine


Cellar

The ideal place to store wine is the winery because it is a dark room with a more constant temperature than other rooms in the house.

It is no coincidence that in wineries the cellar is the heart button of the vinificationthe casket that holds the wines during their refinement in barrels and bottles and that allows them to mature to the right point for quality products.

 

Wine cellars or cold stores

However, not everyone is fortunate enough to have a cellar. In such cases, one can resort to the wine cellars or wine librariesspecial cold rooms designed for store wine at a controlled temperature and in a horizontal position. The best models are small and compact and can accommodate numerous bottles while taking up little space. Some are real technological and design gems.

 

 

How long can you keep an open bottle of wine

Wine is a 'living' product: its characteristics change over time. If left in a sealed bottle for a long time, in optimal conditions, its perfumes and aromas evolve into more complex and articulated structures with the passage of time.

The same happens when opening a bottleContact with air produces alterations in the organoleptic components of the wine. In several cases, oxygenation of the wine is a procedure that allows the wine to release its characteristics to the full. This is the case, for example, with aged and well-structured red wines, which must be aerated inside special decanters or in the bottle itself before serving.

 

Oxygenation

 L'oxygenationIn fact, it has the function of rebalancing the wine with its surroundings by eliminating the so-called reduction smell. 

However, keeping a bottle opened for a long time alters its characteristics, damaging the wine. Aromatic substances evaporate and can increase thevolatile acidity which gives the wine an unpleasant sour taste.

So, How long can you keep an open bottle of wine? It all depends on the type of wine. 

 

How to store white wine and sparkling wine

In general, the WHITE WINES should be stored at a temperature of 10° - 12°C while the bottle is still sealed, possibly in a horizontal position. Storage after opening for whites is only possible for one to three days if the cork is screwed, and for sparkling wines only a few hours (maximum 24 hours).

 

How to store red wine

I red wines instead should be stored at a temperature between 12° and 15°C in a horizontal position. However, it is advisable to rotate them in upright position one day before serving them on the table. This will in fact favour the depositing of particles on the bottom.

Christmas traditions in Tuscany

From artistic nativity scenes to culinary traditions, discover the most magical time of the year with Tuscan Christmas delicacies and pair them with the right wine.

December is one of the most evocative times of the year to visit Tuscany, thanks undoubtedly to the magical atmosphere that can be felt from the very first days of the month in art cities such as Florence and Siena or in medieval villages such as Poggio alle mura and Montalcino where the Christmas traditions of Tuscany fascinate tourists of all ages.


Christmas in Tuscany


Christmas in Tuscany is indeed an experience to be had at least once in a lifetime, to be experienced at couple o at familysurrounded by breathtakingly beautiful landscapes that are coloured with new shades and suggestions during the Christmas period. But Christmas in Tuscany is also synonymous with hospitality, good wine and good foodthanks to the richness of the local culinary tradition that skilfully blends quality ingredients and traditional country recipes to satisfy even the most demanding palates.


Christmas traditions in Tuscany


Tuscan Christmas traditions have their roots in the ancient times and are repeated from generation to generation to keep alive the link with the past and with a land so rich in stories, legends, events and traditions.


Villages and cribs

It is above all the villages that are the protagonists of Christmas traditions in Tuscany: Barga, Petroio, Pescaglia and other small jewels of the Serchio valley are transformed during the Christmas period into a veritable living nativity scene under the open sky, in which one can walk around admiring the masterpieces of the master figurine makers dedicated to the Nativity, but also to popular traditions. The most fascinating is the Petroio Artistic Crib with over 100 characters.


Bonfires and torchlight processions

In the small village of Gorfigliano, in the Alta Garfagnanathe evening of Christmas Eve is lit up with magic thanks to the splendour of the Nataleccivery high bonfire placed in the highest points of the surrounding hills, which are lit at the same time as the bells toll, enveloping the village in a magical light. The event is one of the oldest Christmas traditions in Tuscany: the Christmas construction techniqueswith juniper and chestnut branches, are a secret that has been handed down from generation to generation for centuries, and competition between families in the area is still felt today.
Dates back to before the year one thousand instead the torchlight procession in Abbadia San Salvatore, a pretty village in the heart of the Amiata. Legend has it that the inhabitants of the villages along the Via Francigena gathered there for the traditional Christmas Eve Mass and that their route to the abbey was lit and illuminated by large bonfires.
On 7 December instead, for the eve of the Immaculate Conception, is the municipality of Gallicano to sparkle at the torchlightwhich is ritually lit in the festively decorated square, amidst Christmas carols and colourful market stalls.


What we eat at Christmas in Tuscany


Christmas traditions in Tuscany are also ancient when it comes to gastronomic traditions. Tuscany is in fact home to the Italian culinary excellence most appreciated throughout the peninsula and the world, including fine wines from the Montalcino area. It should come as no surprise, therefore, that many Christmas recipes are also being revived in other parts of Italy.


But what do you eat at Christmas in Tuscany?


It starts, as per tradition, with the appetizers with cured meats, accompanied by a local white wine, and with the liver crostinialso called crostini neri, symbol of a rustic and humble culinary tradition, but rich in taste.
Among the first courses, we find tortellini in capon broth, strictly handmade with fresh egg pasta, and the so-called 'ribollita di cavolo nero', a soup made with beans, Savoy cabbage and cabbage, served in terracotta bowls. Christmas traditions in Tuscany include a meat second courseanother excellence of the area: roast Chianina beef, pork liver, guinea fowl and duck in orange are the typical specialities of this period.
On the Christmas table of true Florentines, one cannot miss the typical Tuscan sweets: castagnaccio, panforte di Siena, ricciarelli, cantuccini strictly dipped in vin santo as tradition dictates.


Visit our Wine Shop during the Christmas period


Tuscany is thus reconfirmed as one of the regions richest in culture and charm when it comes to Christmas traditions, which is why it is a favourite destination for many tourists in December.
For those who choose to spend Christmas in Tuscany among the rolling hills, the village of Poggio alle Mura (where the Castello Banfi Wine Resort), enveloped in the evocative and festive Christmas atmosphere, it almost seems like an enchanted place, a little glimpse of a nativity scene, a romantic greeting card. In addition to visiting our small village, you can discover the gastronomic traditions of Tuscany and visit the Enoteca of Castello Banfi Wine Resort, a true Tuscan workshop of yesteryear, with its exposed-beam ceiling and rustic floor. Here you can taste some of the best products offered by the land of the Brunellocold meats, cheeses, oils and of course a wide selection of wines, immersed in the magical atmosphere of Christmas.

Wine disgorging: what it is and what it is used for

The Disgorgement Process allows the removal of sediment. Find out how it is performed and at what stage of wine production.

What is wine disgorgement and how it is performed

Disgorgement of wine is a fundamental step in the production of classic method sparkling wines and, in the case of Banfi, our bubbles are produced according to this procedure in the cellar Banfi Piemonte located in Streviin the province of Alessandria.
In addition to our visitable wine cellar nestled amidst the Montalcino vineyards at the enchanting and picturesque estate of Castello Banfi Wine ResortIn fact, Banfi also has another equally historic winery with an adjoining 50 hectares (46 of which are vineyards) in Piedmont. Here we produce quality bubbles such as sparkling wines classical method and the Charmat.

 

At what stage of production is the disgorging of sparkling wine carried out?

Disgorgement of wine is a process that involves theelimination of fermentation residues from bottles of classic method sparkling wine.
The classic method sparkling winesin fact, undergo a second fermentation in the bottle: the base wine cuvée, made with fine wines from the region (Piedmont in the case of Banfi Piemonte), is enriched with a liqueur de tirage, a mixture of sugars, minerals and yeasts capable of triggering the re-fermentation of the wine and the so-called "presa di spuma". This process, however, results in the formation of residues and spent yeasts, which compromise the crystal-clear clarity that characterises Italian sparkling wines.

 

Process

For this, the bottles are turned upside down and, through the complex process of remuage, whether manual or mechanical, the residues are trapped towards the neck of the bottle, inside the bidule located under the crown cap.
It is at this stage that the wine is disgorged, i.e. the crown cork with the residue is removed and the new characteristic cork that characterises classic method sparkling wines is inserted.

 

Disgorgement of wine: meaning and origin of the name

The word "disgorging"by which the whole process of removing the residue is referred to, refers to the actual act of uncorking the bottle. The French word 'dégorgement', on the other hand, which is also used in Italy to indicate this procedure (given the profound influence of French wine culture in the production of classic method sparkling wines) can be translated literally as 'discharge' and refers instead to the elimination of residues. The two terms are used indiscriminately such as synonyms.

 

Dégorgement: differences between manual and mechanical procedure

Within the articulated and complex production process, the disgorging of sparkling wine occupies a role important, since guarantees the presentation of a crystal-clear sparkling winewith a luminous perlage and bubbles of character. In the past, this operation was performed by hand, even within the Banfi Piemonte winery, by experts in manual remuage and dégorgement à la volée, through skilful and precise gestures, the fruit of years of experience in this field.

 

Dégorgement à la volée: the traditional procedure

Dégorgement à la voléei.e. the disgorging by handconsists in uncorking the upside-down bottle by handby exploiting the pressure created inside it during refermentation and thus eliminating the residue inside the cork and bidule. It is then quickly straightened so as to reduce the spillage of the sparkling wine.
At this stage, you can compensate for the loss of liquid through a procedure of topping up with liquer d'expedition or liquer de dosage, a sugary blend that enhances classic method sparkling wines and helps enrich the sensory experience.

 

Innovation

The difficulty of dégorgement à la volée made it essential to invent a mechanised procedure that would minimise or completely eliminate wine spillage. However, for fine formats or the most special cuvées, we still use this manual technique, which we could define a true art, the exclusive prerogative of expert master vintners, such as those at Banfi.

 

Dégorgement a la glace: the modern procedure

The mechanised procedure of disgorging wine or sparkling wine is called dégorgement a la glace. Bottles undergoing remuage are pre-washed from the pupitres (the special wooden boards on which they are placed with the neck downwards) and placed in special machines that freeze the neck of the bottle and the crown cork thanks to a special saline compound capable of bringing the liquid and sediment to a temperature between -25°C and -30°C.

 

Machinery

The machinery then proceeds to turn the bottles upside down: unlike manual dégorgement, with dégorgement a la glace the spent yeast and other residues trapped in the bidule will be frozen, without the risk of them falling into the bottle and clouding the wine again.
It is then possible to safely remove the frozen cork (the actual disgorging of the classic method sparkling wine), top up the wine if necessary, and replace the cork with the metal cage.

 

Conclusions

On dégorgement a la glace is, as mentioned above, the procedure for disgorging wine most used by the producers. However, watching a master vintner perform manual dégorgement is a real spectacle, an experience not to be missed if you love wine and its production according to ancient traditions.