How to store wine

Whether you’re a casual wine drinker or an enthusiastic collector, it’s important to store wine correctly to preserve its flavours and quality. Storing wine properly means it will still taste good when you’re ready to open it. The good news is that you don’t need a fancy wine cellar to store wine well. With a few simple tips, you can keep your wine in great shape, whether it’s for everyday meals or special occasions.

Read on to learn the basics of storing wine at home, why it matters, how long opened bottles last, and the best ways to keep your wine tasting its best.

Why does correct wine storage matter?

Storing wine the right way helps it stay fresh and lets its flavours develop over time.

Storing wine incorrectly – like exposing it to too much heat, light, air, or movement – can ruin how it tastes. Even if you don’t have a special space for wine, following some easy rules can stop your wine from going bad.

5 tips for storing unopened wine bottles

1. Keep the temperature consistent

Of all the factors influencing wine quality, temperature is perhaps the most important. Wine is best stored at a cool and steady temperature. Changes in temperature can make the cork expand and shrink, letting air in and spoiling the wine.

Red wine should be stored at 10-16°C and white wine or rosé between 8-12°C, while fortified wines should ideally be stored at 10-15°C. So, for most wines, a steady 13°C is good.

You can also check the label or winemaker’s label for specific varieties based on the grape, style, and intended ageing potential.

2. Watch humidity levels

Humidity plays a key role in wine storage. Too little humidity can cause corks to shrink, while high humidity can damage labels, which may affect a bottle’s collectible value. Keep the humidity between 50% and 70%.

Remember that kitchens and laundry rooms often experience fluctuating humidity levels, so you may want to avoid storing your wine there. You can buy a simple hygrometer tool to check a room’s humidity.

In more humid environments, a dehumidifier can help prevent corks from becoming too moist and labels from getting mouldy.

3. Keep wine out of sunlight

Store your wine somewhere dark away from direct sunlight and UV rays, as these can degrade its flavours and aromas.

4. Store bottles horizontally

If your wine has a cork, store the bottle on its side. This keeps the cork moist, preventing it from shrinking and allowing air to enter the bottle. Screw-top bottles don’t need horizontal storage, but it’s often the most space-efficient method, particularly if you have a wine rack.

5. Keep bottles still

Don’t store wine where it will get bumped or shaken, like next to a washing machine. Vibrations can disturb sediments and negatively impact the wine’s ageing process.