(5) CORRECT STORAGE FOR WINE
Once processed, wine gets bottled. According to the available room and the choice of the winemaker, it undergoes two passages:
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- Option 1. It is put on zinced metal cages or in special “sheets” made up of rigid plastic, before it is actually labelled (it will, just before it gets sold).
- Option 2. It gets labelled and placed in boxes so it is ready to be shipped.
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Because of further shipping, it is best to place the wine bottles on EUR pellets (120 cm x 80 cm) that can be lifted by forklifts.
(6) THE PROPER STORAGE FOR WINE
As said, there needs to be a storage area for wines that is separated from the processing and finishing areas.
The storage area needs to have the following characteristics:
- Controlled temperature ranging from 10 to 14°C
- Relative humidity around 65%
- The area needs to be well lit and preferably by artificial light (the ideal is to use screened lamps to avoid direct light passing by the glass)
- The winery should be underground
- Vibrations should be avoided
- Food should not be present in the winery (especially cheese and raw meat salami)
- No water should be left on the floor of the winery
- Thermal conditions in the winery should be homogeneous
(7) CORRECT STORAGE METHODS
The following guidelines should be kept in mind when planning the storage rooms:
1) Have a proper storage room that is independent from the production area.
2) Keep Temperature and humidity constant, using specific climatic plants if needed.
3) It is strongly suggested to keep the wine in the bottle, without labels to avoid dust on it and further yellowing of the label paper itself.
4) Cages are to be preferred to boxes that in the long run are going to run down. Beware to place bottle upright, in a horizontal position. Wood boxes with straw are to be prepared right before the sale.
5) Even if they do not have the label, stored bottles need to have the capsule so the cork is protected and the wrapping too if the DOP legislation applies. This is important to keep a good track of the bottles.
6) Bottling lots need to be kept separate.
7) Storage rooms have to be specifically used for the storage of wine and not for any other kind of material.
8) Many operations can be done using the forklift on pellets or cages but a lot of care must be taken while allowing appropriate room for it to move around.