Mold in your cellar?

Have you ever pulled a bottle from your cellar 💡 and noticed a dirty looking label or cork?

💡

wine cel·lar : noun : a room for storing wines : a stock of wine (Merriam-Webster) or in the context of this post and most collectors outside of an actual winery, a refrigeration unit designed specifically for wine.

Fret not my friends!

A little mold is perfectly fine, and actually a sign that you are taking excellent care of your wine. 👏🏻

Wine should be stored in a cool dark location (bring in the cellar!) and corks actually need humidity so they don't dry out. This cold, dark, humid environment is - you guessed it - the perfect place for mold to grow!

So don't stress if you see some mold growth on your bottles, the wine inside will still be delicious.

Pro Tip:

if you do have a bottle with some mold and don't want to set it out at a dinner party (or even look at it yourself) you can wipe it down with a vinegar / water solution or just decant the wine and ditch the dirty bottle. (stay tuned for some decanting tools and tips in a future post!)

There is a fine line to humidity though, so keep an eye on those spots of mold that pop up. If the humidity in your cellar exceeds 80% you'll want to address that. The cheapest and easiest way to do this is by tossing a sponge or two into the cellar to help absorb the excess moisture.

Cheers!!