Which cork for long term aging

[Stovetop535]

I am just starting to get more into wines and mead making and I have a question about long term bottle storage. I want to be able to cork my bottles and be able to store them for 20 years. My wife and I do not drink a lot of wine and I usually start a new wine or mead every 3 to 4 months, so allowing bottles to sit is not very difficult for us.

Is it practical at a homebrew level to be able to store wine and mead for that long? Anything else I need to do in order to keep bottles that long (wax)?

Thanks
Alex

 

[Bluespark]

I'm in a similar situation. As far as I know, reds or meads are a better choice for long term aging, compared to white wines. Some kits are only made for quick consumption, so if you really want to age it that long, buy great kits or fantastic quality ingredients. Sanitize as per usual, and use really high quality corks.

The general consensus on here about wax( search the old threads) is that it is cosmetic, and really doesn't help much as far as aging goes.

Oh and store them in the coolest, most cellar like place you can.

 

[Heavywalker]

Actually wax does help with the long term storage but it does not allow oxygen transfer that helps age the wine. I have heard of people allowing a wine to age in a bottle for a period of time, then using wax to keep them from getting past their prime. I am not sure if this method works or not.

As far as aging a long time just us the best quality corks that you can find. FWIW past a certain age and it really is a crap shoot if the wine is going to be good or not. The most important thing when storing wine is to not allow the cork to dry out and not allow wild temp swings. A steady temp will allow your wine to age longer.

 

[Stovetop535]

So for the long term stuff, something like http://www.finevinewines.com/XPListDet1.asp?MM_PartNumber=10001B

And then just the cheap corks for anything else under 2 years?

I am not set on having stuff around for 20 years. I used 20 as a goal to have a couple bottles of the more exotic wines and meads left. Plus I like the idea of having bottles around that long.

 

[Brett_Bellmore]

I'm looking at long term storage, chiefly because I'm in a "May/December" marriage, and I kind of like the idea that, long after I'm gone, my widow will at least be able to pop the cork on an occasional bottle to remember me by.

I'm not expecting to croak any time soon, mine you, so I've at least got some time to learn to brew something she might WANT to pop the cork on.