How to Store Wine at Home

The four enemies of wine

Wine is stable but fragile. Heat, light, vibration and dryness are the four factors that most commonly damage bottles stored at home. Controlling them matters far more than owning an expensive rack.

Temperature

The classic cellar temperature is 10 to 14 °C, but consistency matters more than the exact number. Large swings between day and night or between seasons make the wine and the cork expand and contract, which can push air in and accelerate ageing. Temperatures above roughly 25 °C for extended periods can cook a wine, leaving it flat and stewed.

Avoid storing wine in kitchens, near radiators, above refrigerators, in garages that heat up in summer or under the roof. A cool interior cupboard on the ground floor is often better than a purpose-bought rack in a warm living room.

Humidity, light and vibration

• Humidity: around 60 to 75% keeps corks from drying. Very dry rooms can shrink corks over many years; extreme dampness can damage labels and encourage mould on the outside of bottles.
• Light: ultraviolet light can degrade wine, particularly in clear or pale green bottles. Keep bottles in the dark or in their original boxes.
• Vibration: constant vibration from washing machines or heavy traffic may disturb the sediment and, over a long time, affect the wine. Keep bottles away from appliances.

Position matters for corked bottles

Bottles sealed with natural cork should be stored on their side so the wine keeps the cork moist. Screw-cap bottles and sparkling wines can stand upright for short periods, although long-term storage of sparkling wine is often done on its side as well.

Short-term versus long-term storage

Most wine is meant to be drunk within a few years of purchase, and for these bottles a cool, dark, stable cupboard is entirely sufficient. Only wines made to age, such as fine Bordeaux, Barolo, vintage Champagne or Riesling Spätlese, justify investing in a temperature-controlled wine cabinet or professional storage.

If you collect, keep an inventory of what you have, where it is and when it should be at its best. A cellar management tool such as VinoSnap can track this for you.