How Should You NOT Store Wine?

Custom residential wine cellar by Vinotemp

If you drink wine quickly and rarely store wine long-term, you are likely not familiar with the basics of wine storage. Once you start accumulating five bottles, ten bottles, and then cases of wine, it is time to start storing your wine in the ideal environment. .

Wine is a delicate liquid that needs the proper conditions to thrive. Here are some of the worst places to store wine:

● A hot or cold space that is subject to wide temperature fluctuations. For example, a hot garage, outdoors, or uninsulated space are bad places to store wine.
● In a bright space where the wine will be exposed to harsh UV rays or bright lighting.
● In a high traffic area where people are regularly walking by or opening/closing the cabinet’s doors where the wine is stored.
● In a dry location with little to no humidity.


Now that you know where not to store your wine, let’s discuss where you should.

1. Select a space with the right temperature. The best temperature for red and white wine is 55 degrees Fahrenheit or 13 degrees Celsius. This temperature will work for both long and short-term wine storage. Wine should never be housed in a space subject to regular temperature fluctuations or a room with temperatures below 25 degrees Fahrenheit or above 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Too cold and the wine will freeze, too hot and it will begin to cook. Stability is very important, so the space should be insulated if possible and monitored. Keep in mind, serving and storage temperatures for wine are different.

2. Horizontal bottle orientation. The cork of the bottle should always be wet to prevent seepage. When air makes its way into the bottle, it accelerates the wine’s aging process, affecting the taste negatively. To ensure the cork remains wet, store wine on wine racks that hold the bottle in the horizontal position.

3. Darkness is key. UV rays can directly damage both the flavors and aromas of the wine. Harsh lighting can also heat the room and cause temperature fluctuations. Opt for a dark space.

4. A note on humidity. If the humidity in the room is too low, the corks of the wine can begin to dry out. When the humidity is too high, unwanted mold can begin to form in your cellar, and the labels may even begin to peel off. Keep the humidity in your wine room around 50 to 70%.

5. Stillness is important. When wine is placed in a high traffic area where it may be subjected to regular vibrations, the sediment inside the bottle will be disturbed and affect a wine’s flavor. Try to keep your wine in a quiet area with little foot traffic.

6. Use a wine refrigerator, wine cabinet, or wine cellar for storage. Keeping all these different elements of wine storage in mind, the easiest solution is to use a wine refrigerator, cabinet, or cellar for wine storage. A wine refrigerator is a refrigerator designed specifically for wine storage. Wine coolers are easy to install and ready to use right away. A wine cabinet is similar to a wine refrigerator but usually made from wood. A furniture-style wine cabinet can be customized to the collector’s style while keeping many of the same features of a wine cellar, such as racking, cellar cooling systems, insulation, lighting and more. A wine cellar is a dedicated room that has been optimized for wine storage with proper insulation, a vapor barrier, lighting, cellar cooling system and wine racking.

Still have questions about wine storage? Let Vinotemp help. Contact us with our Contact Form to speak with one of our cellar experts today.