A dry rose, crisp chardonnay, or full-bodied cabernet are a few types of wines you’ll find in my home collection. Living in Monterey County and south of Napa Valley, I feel fortunate to have experienced a number of fantastic wineries close to home. Wine for those who are less familiar can be intimidating. There are several wine varietals, proper techniques and glassware, and the correct temperature for storing or serving wine, but in reality, you don't have to be a wine expert to enjoy or collect wine.
I had an opportunity to collaborate with a dear friend who is also a wine consultant for Scout & Cellar, Ali Anderson. Ali and I met nearly ten years ago in Santa Cruz, California, and connected over a love of wine and most recently home projects. Ali let me ask several questions and she shared her knowledge and advice for properly storing and enjoying wine.
Whether you plan to revitalize your wine storage or you're looking for a new wine to purchase, we have something for you with this wine-tastic Q&A.
Rose from Scout & Cellar
Ali + SCOUT & CELLAR
Ali Anderson is a mom of 3 living in Santa Cruz and an independent Wine Consultant with Scout & Cellar, an e-commerce wine company, focused on delivering Clean-Crafted™ wine. Scout and Cellar’s team of sommeliers curate wine from all over the world, including New Zealand, Chile, France, Spain, Italy, and California. With a focus on wine made with no synthetic pesticides and vinified without any additives, chemicals, artificial sweeteners, or added sugars. The vineyards instead utilize organic, biodynamic farming to produce smaller batches of grapes. There are less than 3% of vineyards in the world that meet the Clean-Crafted™ seal of approval. When you order wine from Scout and Cellar, you are guaranteed to get a wine that is free from added sugar, mega purple, glyphosate (Roundup), and over 250 other potential chemicals.
Photo Courtesy of Ali Anderson
INSIGHTS | ALI FROM SCOUT & CELLAR Q+A
Wild Moss Home: We’ve had conversations about wine and you have wonderful descriptions of different types of wine drinkers. Will you share your wine drinker profiles with us?
Ali from Scout & Cellar: Yes, of course. In my experience, wine can be very intimidating to some, adventurous for others, and a no brainer for those that have been drinking it for years.
For those that do not claim to be experts on wine but will not turn down a glass, don’t feel overwhelmed by the perceived haughty culture of wine. Wine is meant to bring people together and enrich memorable experiences.
Once you embrace all that wine has to offer, it becomes such an adventure! An adventurous wine drinker, like you, Jackie, enjoys wine and all it has to offer across the rainbow of varietals. The key is to learn what your palate prefers (not what someone tells you to like). Once you can describe your favorite wine’s attributes, it becomes an experience that you crave. You seek the adventure to find new varietals, embrace a new vintage and embrace the community, the storytelling, and the chance to discover a new favorite.
I love introducing Clean-Crafted wine to dignified drinkers because they are often surprised at how good the wine is and so happy to make a switch to cleaner options for their health and to stay loyal to their drink of choice, wine!
WMH: No matter what type of wine drinker you are, how important is proper wine storage? Where is the best place to store wine in your home?
ASC: Wine is the most intricate, amazing, little science experiment. And as with any experiment, if you add different elements it will affect the taste of the wine. Some of the most important elements in storing your wine is paying attention to the positioning and temperature.
WMH: How important is the bottle position when storing wine and what is the impact on the longevity of wine?
ASC: Optimum positioning can help keep the wine in the state that the vintner intended. There is a reason that most wine racks have bottles that are stored horizontally, it’s their favorite position. While a good rule of thumb is horizontal, the temperature is a more important element to focus on with wine storage.
WMH: So temperature really matters, can you explain more?
ASC: Yes, consistently cool temperatures are a wine’s best friend! Although it is very common to store wine in your kitchen, it can also be the warmest room in a home. You want to identify a place in your home that is cool, low to the ground, and not exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time. Heat rises, so try to avoid high cabinets or the top of any appliances that may radiate heat.
WMH: What is the ideal temperature?
ASC: Above 78 degrees is not great but once you hit 90 degrees your wine will really begin to change and nobody likes wine “well done”. That is a science experiment you want to avoid.
If you have a wine fridge, it is recommended that you set it to 55 degrees and 75% humidity.
When wines are designed to be chilled before serving, it’s best to put them in the day that you intend to drink them. Try not to leave them in the fridge for more than a few days. If you forgot to chill your wine there are also chilling tumblers that are well worth the money. I recommend the Vinglace Wine Chiller with a glass inlay. The freezer with a wet paper towel for about 20-25 minutes also works in a pinch!
Vinglace Wine Chiller from Scout & Cellar
WMH: Love the wine chiller idea, especially for a Rose I picked up last minute at the store. What other wine accessories do you recommend (decanter, corkscrews, etc.)?
ASC: One accessory that I would highly recommend is purchasing a decanter or aerator, it can help the wine breathe before you enjoy it.
WMH: On the topic of decanters, what type or style is best?
ASC: If these accessories feel too stuffy for you, simply open your wine a couple hours earlier than you plan on enjoying it, and give it a few extra swirls in your glass. All options get wine to the glass and in your mouth which is everyone’s main goal!
WMH: You've shared wine drinker profiles, how to store wine, accessories, and more. Any final thoughts about wine storage before we explore ideas for organizing wine?
ASC: If I could make one recommendation for storing your wine, it is to make it accessible. Think about having 2 types of wine storage: one for now, and one as your cellar for storing or collecting special wines. But really wine is meant to be enjoyed, so the number one thing to think about is accessibility. I have a closet cellar, but I also have my easy to grab stash in my kitchen [just like I said not to] because I know I want to enjoy it regularly. Make it easy for yourself to grab a glass, pop the cork and drink the wine because that is the number one thing the vintner wants you to do with it!
Ideally, you have a decanter or aerator that is going to help your wine breathe or produce more surface area for it to be exposed to oxygen and elevate the taste of the wine. It will help soften the wine by reducing the tannins. Either a decanter or aerator will do the trick but you may decide that one fits your wine drinking style more. A decanter is a separate large glass item that you pour the wine into. An aerator is an attachment that can pop right on top of the bottle while pouring it. If you like to serve wine more elegantly, a decanter is fun for dinner parties. They are also recommended for older wines that may deposit sediment. When decanting wine, it is best if you can do this about an hour or so before enjoying the wine.
Photo Courtesy of Ali Anderson
For more information about where to purchase clean-crafted wine delivered straight to your door visit scoutandcellar.com/alianderson
Are you interested in booking a virtual or in person wine tasting with Ali? You can email her at aliqanderson@gmail.com or connect with her on Instagram @ali_q_anderson.
WINE ORGANIZATION WITH WILD MOSS HOME
Whether you're an avid wine drinker or you enjoy an occasional glass from time to time, chances are you have a wine rack and a handful of accessories in your home. The ideal wine storage system will vary based on your needs and the amount of wine you own. In the below roundup, I will share a few ideas to help you decide what wine and accessory organizing solution is best for you.
My first recommendation is to find the best location in your home to store your wine because we know from our conversation with Ali, that temperature, sun exposure, and bottle positioning matter. A beautiful wine rack in your dining room may look amazing, but if your wine is in direct sunlight all day, your wine may be affected. Look for a consistently cool location for a wine rack or consider purchasing a temperature-controlled wine cabinet. The best solution should support your average quantity of wine allow for fluidity in your collection and maximize your available space.
Floor Rack: One solution for a home with a significant wine collection is a floor wine rack. Offering easy access to each bottle of wine, a wine rack provides ample storage for a large or growing wine collection.
Wall Rack: l love a wall wine rack in a pantry, dining space, or unique area of your home specifically designed for entertaining. A beautiful wall rack offers a sophisticated and functional element, maximizing the use of your space.
Counter Rack: A counter wine rack is a great solution if you have a smaller collection or you prefer to have a few bottles on hand in your kitchen.
Refrigerator Rack: Keep your whites and roses chilled with a wine rack fit for your refrigerator. A simple wine rack in your refrigerator designates a space for wine and allows for horizontal storage.
mDesign Stackable Refrigerator Wine Rack
WINE OPENERS, STOPPERS & MORE
All of the accessories available for wine can add up quickly. Drawer dividers, designated containers, or drawers are perfect for keeping your items together. Choose a location close to your glassware and determine what items you truly need in your home. How many wine keys or wine stoppers do you use? Designate a drawer or container to organize your wine openers, wine stoppers, wine charms, and small aerators.
For decanters, wine chillers, or champagne buckets, consider carving out space next to your wine glasses or at your home bar if you have a bar cart or designated entertaining area. Consider how often you use the items you are storing. For example, you may not need a decanter if you never decant your wine. Storing the wine accessories, decanters, and so on only benefits you and your space if you use these items and they enhance your wine-drinking experience.
One accessory I personally love for my wine rack is wine tags. I use the tags to label my bottles so that at a quick glance I can easily determine the varietal and vintage of my wine. Wine tags are also great for noting a special occasion or future use for your wine.
Wine Tags
After all this wine talk, I think it’s most definitely time for a glass of rose. Thank you to my dear friend Ali for all her advice and insights. Connect with her on Instagram and be sure to try Scout & Cellar Wine!