Wine Storing Tips
Wine, much like anything, changes over time. It is so important to store your wine in such a way that it is only impacted by positive changes, not harmful ones. There are a variety of factors that influence a wine, including the light, temperature, humidity, and even the bottle position. We are here to help you learn the basics so that you can achieve the optimum in drinkability.
Factors to Consider
Once you know what the enemies are, it will be much easier to store, and later enjoy, your bottles of wine. 
Air
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- Nothing will spoil good wine faster than too much air. Not only will it lose its freshness, but it causes the wine to oxidise. Before long, you will be left with vinegar, and who really wants that?!
- All wine has a little bit of air already present in the bottle to ensure proper ageing. However, you will want to make sure that the wine cork is kept moist so that no additional air is allowed inside. This is why it is advised to store your bottles sideways (horizontally) to keep the cork from cracking, breaking, or shrinking. Try using a wine rack! There are a variety of different materials and styles out there to suit any decorative taste.
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Temperature
- Wine temperature is a vital component to maintaining its freshness. If the wine is stored in conditions that are too cold, the cork will shrink, allowing in unwanted air. (See above!) If the storing conditions are too warm, the wine will age faster than it should. Though it may sound tricky to find the right balance, it's not as difficult as you might think.
- The best temperature for storing wine is one at a constant level between 5-18°C (40-65°F). Many people choose to store their wine in cellars to maintain these temperatures, but small collections can be kept in wine cabinets or wine refrigerators. These come in many different shapes and sizes to suit your own personal taste and space. Keep in mind that the most important component is the consistency of temperature. Too many fluctuations can ruin your wines!
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Light
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- Along with the controlling of air and temperature, the amount of light a bottle receives should also be taken into consideration. Exposure to light should be kept to a minimum.
- Though modern wine bottles will have good UV filters, some can still allow light to penetrate. This leads to a condition of the wine being "light struck," which gives off a very unpleasant aroma upon opening. Using incandescent bulbs produce less ultraviolet light than fluorescents, making them the preferred.
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Suggested Ageing
In general, more expensive wines are designed to be aged longer. Cheaper wines (usually under $10) should be consumed within six months to a year after they are purchased. Know that red wines typically age better than white wines.
- Reds that age well:
Related Guides
Check out some of our other buying guides to pick up even more great tips!
External Links
- About.com: An excellent resource full of tips and techniques for wine storage.
- AtTime4Wine.com: Read more about anything and everything related to wine.
- OurHouse.com.au: James Halliday offers ideas for every wine cellar.
