Horizontal vs Vertical long term storage

After having done it once, I'm a proponent for dipping my freshly bottled wine into wax instead of using the shrink-on sleeves. Now that I've done both, I think the wax is more classy and the sleeves more work... but that is just my opinion.

What I'm wondering is, since the wax does a good job of hermetically sealing off the corks from the ambient atmosphere, is there any strong reason for storing the wine on its side after the corks have set? (By the way, I do give the corks time to set before I do the wax job.) I think storing the wine stacked in boxes is more convenient and leaves my racks for stuff ready for the table.

Reply to
Casey Wilson
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I am uncertain of the science in this case, but the best advices I have been given are to store on the side, regardless of sleeves/wax, lest the cork dry out over time. Storing in a humid atmosphere, and allowing the wine to remain in contact with the bottom of the cork, are the best means of preventing the cork from drying out.

"Casey Wils> After having done it once, I'm a proponent for dipping my freshly

Reply to
Ri

You can get the benefit of cases + preventing the corks from drying by storing the bottles upside down in cases.

Pp

Reply to
pp

Absolutely, store them upside down if you want to keep them in cases. Real corks need to be wet.

Joe

Reply to
Joe Sallustio

Dipping in wax? wow, I've not heard of this. I Googled to find the type of wax (wine making stores have it by the pound), but no instructions.

What do you put it in to melt it? I'd guess it ruins the container? Over the stove or microwave or what?

Is it messy to get off? Like shatters or comes off by peeling with a knife?

Like I said, I googled, but didn't see much on technique. I'd like to try this on my up coming Cab Sauv. Just to be different from my normal shrinkwraps.

DAve p.s. S> After having done it once, I'm a proponent for dipping my freshly

Reply to
Dave Allison

On of the big California wineries was still applying wax plugs; maybe it's Berringer or Sterling. What they did was set the cork a little low, maybe 1/8" and then fill the void with wax. They also applied a seal while still molten to make it look cooler. I think they still did a clear over-wrap capsule over that.

While a wax seal certainly can't hurt you still want the wine side of the cork to stay wet. If you wanted to give the plug idea a shot you could go to a gun-shop and get a small bullet ladle. It might use a lot less wax.

Joe

Reply to
Joe Sallustio

Does the wax actually hermetically seal off the cork? All the wax- covered corks I've seen peel off the glass easily. And at the cork face, it is difficult to remove it in places off the face but frequently in the corners of the cork there's no real adherence between the cork and the wax.

For safety's sake, I'd store it as a un-waxed cork. I'd consider the wax just a more stylish version of the capsule over the cork.

Rob

Reply to
Rob

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