If you’re a wine enthusiast who wants to start curating your own personal collection, you must be wondering, “How on earth do I properly store them?” Wine can spoil quite easily if it is not stored properly before and after opening.
That’s why we’ve created this guide to help you start off your passion project on the right foot. Whether your collection spans just a few bottles or it’s the start of a burgeoning cellar, learn how to store wine effectively, with or without specialized storage equipment.
The Importance of Proper Wine Storage
Imagine your wine bottles as guests at an exclusive gala—the conditions need to be just right for them to enjoy their stay. Here’s what you need to keep in mind:
Reason #1: Temperature Control
Temperature regulation is the key to preserving wine, with 52-65°F being the sweet spot for most wines. As a general precaution, steer clear of storage units prone to fluctuating or cold temperatures. The end result could be cooked flavors or the all-too-dreaded cork failure.
Reason #2: Humidity Management
When it comes to wine storage, humidity is an often overlooked yet crucial factor. Ideally, humidity levels will fall anywhere from 60-80%. These conditions will prevent the cork from drying out, averting the tragedy of oxidation while also keeping mold from crashing the party.
Reason #3: Light Protection
Light, particularly direct sunlight, emits UV rays that can prematurely age wines. If you’re opting for a high-quality wine refrigerator, look for one with tinted or UV-treated glass doors or, better yet, solid doors that keep light at bay.
Extra care is paramount for delicate white wines; they need shade to maintain their purity and prevent their flavors from fading.
Choosing the Right Storage Method
Here are some of the most common options for wine storage. The right choice depends on the size of your collection, your consumption habits, and how long you plan on storing your wines.
Option #1: Wine Racks
A wine rack offers a blend of function and finesse, serving as both a showcase and a safe haven for your bottles.
For collectors early on in their journey (who foresee their collections growing), we recommend modular systems that will grow with your collection of investment-grade wines. Consider options like the WineHive Modular Wine Storage System or the Vintotemp Modular Wine Racks.
For the novice enthusiast, freestanding racks offer generous storage without dominating valuable space, enabling a smooth and effortless start to your collection. In this case, we’d recommend the highly-rated Sorbus Wine Rack Freestanding Floor – Wine Bottle Holder. It is super sturdy and can fit in most places!
Option #2: Wine Refrigerators
Wine refrigerators are armed with the ability to fine-tune temperatures and humidity levels to your precise requirements.
Some even offer options for dual temperature zones. That way, you can cater to the needs of both your reds and your whites in the same storage solution, keeping them both at their peak readiness.
Wine refrigerators come in both built-in and freestanding versions. So, whether you want your wine storage to blend in seamlessly with your existing decor, or you want it to make a statement, there are options for both types of wine collectors.
If your preferred route is a freestanding wine fridge, we recommendation the highly-rated Frigidaire Wine Chiller. It comes with a remote to control lighting and temperature and an alarm that rings if you leave the door open!
Option #3: Wine Cellars
For a serious collector, the wine cellar is the crown jewel of storage solutions, providing the ideal conditions for wines to age with dignity.
A well-designed cellar can become a home’s showpiece, an investment that adds both character and value, appealing to potential buyers with a penchant for the finer things in life.
Whether you’re a casual collector or a serious sommelier, it may be difficult to find room for a cellar in your current home to store your growing wine collection. In that case, consider an off-site storage unit. You can find affordable ones on Neighbor.com, where listings, on average, cost 50% less than traditional storage facilities.
Proper Bottle Positioning
The way you rest your wines can impact their future, shaping tastes and aromas. Let’s discuss the significant yet frequently overlooked art of bottle positioning:
Best Position for Corked Wines
For wines sealed with a traditional cork, a horizontal position is the way to go. It prevents the cork from becoming desiccated, protecting it from the oxygen that yearns to seep in and spoil the party.
Best Position for Alternative Closures
For wines with a modern closure like screw caps and plastic corks, you don’t need to worry about moisture. They are indifferent to orientation, guarding the wine against oxidation without the need for a sideways stance.
How Should Wine Be Stored Without a Cellar?
While not everyone has the privilege of a dedicated cellar, it doesn’t preclude us from striving to age our wines flawlessly. The secret lies in mimicking cellar conditions elsewhere, and here’s how you can do it:
Step #1: Select the Right Space
The search for an appropriate space involves locating a cool, dark, and humid corner that mimics the tranquility of a passive cellar.
Remember, only about 5 to 10% of wines on the market benefit from aging, so choose wisely which bottles deserve this special treatment. Ensure they’re stored horizontally to mature with grace.
Step #2: Monitor Aging Conditions
Aging is a delicate process requiring constant vigilance. Fluctuating temperatures can wreak havoc on your wine, causing the liquid to expand and potentially evict the cork from its rightful place.
An advanced monitoring system, such as the RMS, can be your eyes and ears, ensuring that the optimal conditions for aging are always met.
Handling Open Bottles of Wine: The How-To
Properly handling opened bottles can extend their life, allowing you to savor the wine’s nuances a bit longer, especially when you serve wine with care.
Tip #1: Either Recork or Use a Vacuum Pump
As soon as a bottle is opened, time starts to play a decisive role. Recorking an opened bottle is a simple yet effective defense against oxygen seeping in—just use the stained side of the cork to avoid introducing new contaminants.
For those who want to take preservation up a notch, vacuum pumps are an excellent option. They draw out the air, extending the wine’s freshness for days beyond the first uncorking.
Our recommendation is the highly-rated Vacu Vin Wine Saver Vacuum Stopper. They come in a pack of six and keep the wine fresh for up to a week!
Refrigeration for Opened Bottles
A wine cooler protects both opened red wine and white wine bottles against oxidation.
Note that sparkling wines require a specialized stopper to maintain the bubbliness it’s known (and loved) for.
Summary
For a wine collector, ensuring that the wine bottles remain in perfect condition is the most important thing. So, investing in a climate-controlled self-storage unit may be the best, most convenient bet (especially if you have limited space at home and plan to build your collection over the years). Find a climate-controlled one in your budget in your own neighborhood with Neighbor.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Best Way to Store Wine at Home?
The best way to store wine at home is to keep it in a dark space with some humidity and relatively cool temperature, such as a closet or pantry.
Do You Really Need to Refrigerate Wine?
Yes, if it’s an opened bottle of either red or white, you’ll need to refrigerate it.
Is It OK to Store Wine Upright?
It’s best to store wine horizontally to control the aging process, especially if you want to keep it for a longer period of time. Storing it upright over a short period should be fine, though.
Should Wine Be Kept in the Fridge?
Yes, storing red or white wine in the fridge is okay. Cooler temperatures slow down oxidation, keeping the wine fresh for up to five days. So feel free to pop it in there!
How Long Is an Unopened Bottle of Wine Good For?
To preserve an opened bottle of wine for several days (up to a week), you’ll need to properly re-cork it using a vacuum pump. In most cases, you’ll want to promptly refrigerate the bottle, but it ultimately depends on the wine type and its preferred storage conditions.
