How to store wine is the topic of this installment of our wine guide…
A simple strategy for wine storage is to store bottles on their side in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight. Doing so will minimize damage (mainly in terms of deterioration of taste and flavors) to the wine and allow you to store it for as long as you desire. However, learning a little more than the basics is advisable and that’s what we’ll look at now.
Temperature is the most important factor to pay attention to. Wine should normally be stored between 50-60°F, although a range of 45-65°F is considered OK. A lower, colder temperature causes the aging process to slow down, preventing the wine from aging properly. A higher, warmer temperature causes premature aging (not in a good way).
What hurts wine the most though is temperature fluctuation. A steady temperature at either acceptable extreme being better than storage that every day goes from 45°F - 65°F and back again. The temperature should never fluctuate more than 5°F a day, especially with red wines, which suffer more temperature-related problems than white wines.
The temperature of a standard fridge is too cold for storing wine; however, a specialist wine fridge can be used to store it at the correct temperature. The only time it’s advisable to store it in a fridge is when you have an unfinished bottle, and, even then, it’s quality will continue to deteriorate (albeit at a slower pace).
Humidity is also important as, unless it’s properly maintained, it can cause the cork to dry out, and this allows air to come into contact with the wine (which damages it). You want to aim for a humidity level of around 70 - 80% and can purchase a hygrometer to track this.
A wine cellar is obviously the best place to achieve these optimal conditions but, due to their cost and the space they take up, they’re not an option for most. A basement or garage can be used to get similar results though. Making some space in either and purchasing a wine rack and temperature / humidity gauge are highly recommended if you intend on storing more than a few bottles of wine at a time.
As for how long to store it for, this depends on the type of wine, the region the wine was made in, the technique used to make it, and the particular year the grapes were harvested in. However, as a general guideline, whites normally do not age for long, while reds age for 5-10 years. If you’re starting out, aging charts (which are available free online) can help you see when a wine is typically best enjoyed.
Want to know more about wine? Take a look at our free guide: Wine 101