Certainly storing wine at home requires some thoughtful consideration but it needn’t be complicated. If you’re still uncertain or want more tailored insight, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our experts for more advice. For, once you’ve mastered the basics of storing wine, you can go back to the important part: drinking it.
Sip, savour, save: mastering the art of how to store wine
Opening a bottle of wine is like unlocking a whole new world. Whether you're a seasoned oenophile or just beginning your wine journey, knowing how to store your wine properly can really take your home drinking experience to a whole new level. In this guide, we cover the crucial basics of wine storage.
1. Temperature Control
Wine is sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Aim to store your wines between 7°C to 18°C and keep them away from direct sunlight and heat sources such as ovens or radiators to prevent premature ageing. Consider investing in a wine cooler, since the beauty of a separate wine fridge is that it provides precise controls to help you manage the correct temperature.
2. Horizontal Orientation
If your wine bottles have corks, or if you’re ageing older wines, they should be stored horizontally to keep the cork moist. It prevents air from seeping into the bottle which can cause oxidation.
3. Darkness and Humidity
Try and keep your wines in a dark place because UV rays, especially sunlight, can degrade the wine's delicate flavours. Humidity extremes can cause a lot of damage too so maintain a humidity level of around 50-70% to prevent the cork drying and mould growth.
4. Avoid Vibrations
Keep your wines away from appliances or areas with vibrations. Vibrations can disturb the sediment and affect the ageing process. In fact, once you’ve stored them, avoid all unnecessary movement as even gentle handling can disturb a wine’s maturation.
However, if you want a space-efficient way of storing wine that keeps it at an ideal temperature with minimum stress or fuss, a wine fridge may be a savvy idea. It’s a great way to store open wine or keep bottles within easy reach to serve to guests at the drop of a hat. A wine fridge doesn’t have to take up much space either, if you’re looking for something that can hold a few bottles of wine rather than a whole wine collection, consider a small model as an option.
