Tips & Tricks: Aging Pinot Noir

The fundamentals for aging Bella Vida Pinot Noir contain four basic principles:

• Temperature

• Humidity

• Light

• Movement
  

​Temperature 
A good temperature for storing wine is between 55º-60º. A key component is to have consistent temperature, whether it is in conditioned space or in an underground cellar. Do try to not have big temperature swings (more that 10º during the time the bottles are being stored) especially with Pinot Noir. This is very disruptive (shocking) to the wine and subsequent aging process. 

Humidity
50% to 70% humidity is a nice range. Fluctuation is not as big a concern with humidity as it is with temperature. Humidity helps to keep the cork from drying out and failing. A good tip is to keep a bottle with a cork on its side so that it keeps the cork wet not allowing the cork to dry out as well.

Light
For Pinot Noirs it is best to keep them in the dark. Do try to limit the amount of light exposure especially UV rays. The colored glass is like a pair of sunglasses protecting the wine from degradation as it ages. 

Movement 
Try not to have the wine be the recipient of shaking or vibration. There's more belief than there is science behind this but I do know that if you receive a shipment of Bella Vida Pinot Noir I highly recommend that you let it rest for a least a couple of weeks before you open a bottle to enjoy.