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.

Are Moldy Corks and Bottles Bad for Wine? | Wine Enthusiast
Wine cellars and mold seem to go hand in hand. But are those black spots on your aged Barolo harmful or just adding Old World charm to your collection?

Cheers!!

Nikki Bittner

Nikki Bittner