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Storing wine at home is great … when you do it right. Whether you’re a casual drinker or an avid collector, it’s important to store your wine correctly to preserve its quality. Read on to learn more …
Curating your own personal collection at home is one of the greatest pleasures about drinking wine. But when you think about storing wine, what comes to mind?
… an underground cellar, complete with spiral staircase and bespoke air conditioning?
Of course, that would be nice. But storing wine properly isn’t just for the super-rich.
After all, we all store wine – even if only for a few days.
The good news? Whether your collection includes your favourite ‘every day’ bottles or superb age-worthy vintages, you don’t need an expensive cellar to store your collection.
While your wines must be stored correctly, there are much simpler ways to do so. And in this guide, we’ll give you five helpful tips for storing your wine at home.
Why is storing your wine correctly important?
Store your wine correctly, and it can last for decades, growing in quality and value.
Store your wine incorrectly … and it could soon taste like vinegar. Not ideal, especially if you’ve spent a small fortune securing rare bottles.
1. Store your wine at the correct temperature
Temperature is one of the most important things to consider when storing your wine.
Typically, 10-15°C is the optimal temperature for storing wine. However, the ideal temperature varies between different wine styles.
2. Make sure the storage of your wine is consistent
When it comes to storing your wine, consistency is key. Wines keep better when unbothered by fluctuation in temperature or light intensity.
So, you want to keep your wine’s temperature as stable as possible. This means storing wine away from heaters, boilers and big lamps. Fluctuations can cause the cork to expand and contract, which can lead to your wine oxidising.
You should store your wines in the dark, away from direct sunlight, as UV rays can affect a wine’s delicate flavours and aromas.
3. Store your wine away from vibrations
Vibration is another thing to consider when storing your wine. You should keep your wines away from sources of vibration, as it can affect your wine in two ways.
First, it can disturb sediments in the wine, and second, it can cause a chemical reaction which mutes your wine’s flavours.
We’d recommend storing your bottles away from washing machines, bouncy floorboards and anywhere else where vibrations might occur.
4. Store your bottles horizontally
Bottles with corks should be stored horizontally, preferably on a wine rack or in a wine fridge. This prevents the cork from drying out and shrinking – essential for long-term storage. If a cork dries out, it can allow air into the bottle causing oxidisation. This will cause the wine to mature early, or worse – turn to vinegar.
Bottles with screw caps don’t necessarily need to be stored horizontally, but it’s worth noting that this is the most efficient way to store your wine.
5. Store your wine at the correct humidity
Fluctuations in humidity can also impact a wine’s quality.
The ideal humidity for storing wine is between 50-70%. If you’re storing wine where the humidity is too low, you risk drying out the cork which leaves your wine vulnerable to oxygen exposure. If you’re storing wine where the humidity is too high, you risk the growth of mould and mildew which can damage the wine’s label or cork.
How long should you keep open bottles?
Once you’ve had the pleasure of opening and sipping on your wine, it can last a few days if stored in the fridge.
Open bottles should be stored standing upright rather than horizontally to prevent wine from seeping out.
About the author
Brogan Wilson
Qualified to WSET Level 2 Wine, Brogan is a relatively new member of the team, having joined in September 2023. She previously worked as the sole copywriter at a creative marketing agency, and before that, as a primary school teacher. At Laithwaites HQ, you’ll find her growing her knowledge, asking lots of questions, and crafting both digital and print copy. An ardent red wine drinker, Brogan is also fond of Crémant.
