Is your Romanée-Conti sleeping properly? Expert cellar-level storage secrets revealed!

Romanée-Conti (DRC) is more than just a bottle of wine; it's a liquid work of art, imbued with the essence of time and terroir. However, even the rarest of wines can lose their value if not properly cared for. Don't let improper storage hinder your DRC tasting journey! Château de la Romanée-Conti understands the preciousness of every bottle of DRC and today, we'll reveal our professional, cellar-level storage secrets to ensure your DRC rests in optimal condition, ready to bloom at its peak.

DRC Storage Golden Rules: Temperature, Humidity and Environment

There are three golden rules for a perfect DRC storage environment: stable temperature, appropriate humidity, and avoidance of light and vibration.

1. Constant Temperature: DRC's "Hibernation" Mode

• Ideal Range: The ideal storage temperature for DRC is between 12-16 degrees Celsius (53-60 degrees Fahrenheit) .
• Why it matters: Too high a temperature can accelerate the maturation of wine, causing the loss of aroma, flavor deterioration, and even a "cooked" taste. Too low a temperature can slow maturation and may brittle the cork, affecting its seal.
• The key is consistency: temperature fluctuations are more damaging than simply high or low temperatures. Frequent temperature changes cause the wine to expand and contract, increasing pressure on the cork, causing it to lose its elasticity, allowing air to enter and accelerating oxidation.

2. Suitable humidity: DRC's "moist" space

• Ideal range: Relative humidity should be maintained between **60% - 75%**.
• Why it’s important: Too low humidity will cause the cork to dry out and shrink, allowing air to seep into the bottle and accelerating the oxidation of the wine; while too high humidity can easily breed mold. Although it may not affect the wine, it will damage the wine label and the appearance of the bottle, affecting its collectible value.
• Keep ventilated: Ensure the storage environment has good ventilation to avoid stuffiness and humidity.

3. Away from light and vibration: DRC's "quiet" haven

• Light, especially ultraviolet light , is the number one killer of wine. It accelerates oxidation, damaging the flavor. Therefore, DRC should be stored in a dark environment, away from direct sunlight or strong artificial lighting. While the dark glass of the wine bottle provides some protection, it is not enough to completely block UV damage.
• Vibration: Frequent vibrations can disrupt the delicate molecular structure of wine, affecting its slow maturation process and potentially causing the flavor to become harsh or lose its layers. Therefore, DRC should be stored in a stable, less disturbed location.

Common storage misunderstandings, have you fallen into them?

• Home refrigerators: The temperature in home refrigerators is too low and the humidity is insufficient. The vibration of the compressor can also damage the wine.
• Kitchen or dining room: These places usually have large temperature fluctuations and are often filled with smoke and odors, making them unsuitable for storing wine.
• Store upright: Unless it is a screw-capped wine, most wines (including DRC) should be stored horizontally to keep the wine in contact with the cork and prevent the cork from drying out and shrinking.

Tips for Chateau de Chaussee:

If you have a large number of Romanée-Conti bottles or they are worth a lot of money, we strongly recommend that you consider a professional temperature and humidity controlled wine cabinet or rent a professional wine cellar. This will not only ensure that your DRC is in the best condition, but also provide a guarantee for its future value.