Storing wine: how to keep your wine in top condition

3 golden rules and a simple routine (even without a cellar or expensive cooler)

Finally that special dinner, finally that bottle... and then it tastes... meh...

It's a shame, and to a large extent, it's certainly preventable. With these three simple rules, practical wine storage tips, and quick fixes, you'll store wine like a pro and serve wine in top condition every time!

...tasty is a different matter, of course, and so is age, but I'll get back to that in another blog post. I'll briefly touch on that age phase later.

Why proper storage is so important

How you store red wine, and in some cases white wine as well, significantly influences what you taste: fruit, acidity, tannins, and aromas. Poor storage (too warm, too much light, excessive temperature fluctuations, vibration) dulls these flavors or accelerates oxidation.

So, below I'll give you some practical wine storage advice for both short-term and long-term storage — including how to store a bottle with a cork or screw cap.

The 3 Golden Rules

Rule 1: Cool — stable temperature wins

• Ideal for most red wines: 12–14°C. By the way, I'm talking about storing, not serving.
  
• Temperature fluctuations are more damaging than slightly higher temperatures. So keep the temperature in your storage stable. Furthermore, rapid temperature fluctuations are worse than slow fluctuations. Store your wine in a space that is 14°C in winter and gradually rises to 18°C ​​in spring. °C. It's not great, but it's less bad than putting wine in an attic room that gets 14 degrees Celsius every winter evening. °C is and is heated to 18 during the day °C.
  

Rule 2: Dark — protect from light

• UV and bright light break down delicate aromas. Store bottles away from direct sunlight and bright lights. A cellar, dark cupboard, or wine cooler is ideal.
• Quick tip: A Perfect Wine box works great to block out light.
  

Rule 3: Stable — lying or standing depending on closure

• Cork: Store flat so that the cork stays moist and does not allow air to enter.
  
• Screw cap: It used to be able to stand upright, but there are more and more screw caps that allow air to pass through to varying degrees. So if you're not sure what kind of screw cap you have, just leave it alone.
  
• Avoid vibrations (near washing machines or speakers) and strong odors.
  

Practical wine storage tips (without a cellar)

• Wine cooler: the simplest (not necessarily cheap) investment for stable temperature and dark storage.
  
• Dark cupboard: Choose an indoor cupboard or storage area where the temperature remains constant. Store bottles horizontally.
  
• Cool hallway? Staircase? Only if the temperature and humidity are relatively constant.
  
• Storage for multiple bottles: use wooden racks or simple steel racks. If you're planning to store large quantities, be sure to look for racks that don't leave too much space between and above bottles, and that work two rows deep, neck-to-neck. This will significantly reduce the number of bottles you can store per square meter.
  

How to store wine? Step by step

1. Buy, transport and store at the right temperature: avoid temperature fluctuations during transport.
   
2. Store bottles flat. This also applies to screw caps if they are wines for storage. Champagne corks can be stored upright.
   
3. Keep temperature around 12–14 °C, humidity 60–80% helps keep cork stable.
   
4. Open bottle? Close immediately with the original cork or vacuum pump. Refrigerate to slow oxidation. You could also try storing leftover wine in the most snug, sealable container, such as a mason jar, and refrigerate it. The point is to reduce the surface area exposed to oxygen. A Coravin is ideal, of course.
   

Store bottle after opening

• Vacuum pump: 3–5 days the wine retains much of its flavour.
  
• Argon gas (e.g., in a glass tapped with Coravin): Months, but this depends somewhat on the wine, the amount tapped, etc.
  

• Decant and return: reduces storage time, I'd say just drink it. Otherwise, after the last glass, return it to the bottle and refrigerate as quickly as possible.
  
• The refrigerator always helps: chill an opened (preferably with the cork back on) red bottle to slow the reaction with oxygen; take it out 20–30 minutes before serving.
  

How long does it last? (unopened and opened)

• Everyday commercial red wines: 2–5 years after purchase.
  
• Mid-range (more tannins/acid): 3–10 years.
  
• High quality, ageing wines: 8 – 20+ years (depending on grape and year).
  
• Opened: 2–10 days (depending on storage method).
  

Good to know

Not every red wine is meant for long-term aging. Many modern wines are made to be enjoyed young and fruity. There are also houses that optimize for a relatively young peak in performance.

Besides, a less-than-ideal storage location doesn't guarantee your wine will spoil. I've opened plenty of bottles in my life that have spent years in a relatively warm attic and still held up perfectly.

I also accidentally left a bottle in the car in a warm parking spot recently, and it was "broken" within two days. The cork had come out a little, some of the wine had leaked out, and all the fruit was quite cooked.

But hey, definitely err on the side of caution. And of course, also consider whether wines can/should be stored long-term.

How can you estimate that?

Tannins, acidity, and sugar largely determine aging potential. More tannin and acid, more sugar (I'm talking primarily about dessert wines like Château d'Yquem ) = more aging potential.

Common mistakes

• Store bottles upright if they have a cork: the cork dries out and air can enter.
• Temperature fluctuations (for example a poorly insulated attic in summer) accelerate aging.
• Direct sunlight: causes “light damage” and flatness.

Quick fixes

Sometimes that first sip isn't great, but that doesn't mean you can throw the bottle away. Here are a few more tips to try at that point:

1. Decanting: Sometimes simply adding some air to the wine helps open up the aromas. Sometimes decanting might not go smoothly enough, but in that case, you can simply double decant. Huh? Double? Yes, decant the bottle, grab a funnel, pour it back into the bottle, and then repeat the process.
2. Mix it with a fresher element, bring some contrast with a bit of cheese, salty bread, etc. and that balance sometimes helps your palette look at the wine a little differently.
3. Temperature—sometimes you need a bit warmer or cooler to perform better. Too much alcohol? Colder. Not enough fruit, but no alcohol issues? A bit warmer.

Bottom line: keep it simple and consistent

Storing wine doesn't have to be an expensive hobby. With consistency—cool, dark, and stable—and a few clever tools (wine refrigerator, vacuum pump, argon gas), you can prevent flat wine. Whether you want to store a single bottle or a small supply, follow these wine storage tips and your glass will start out in top condition.

This is, of course, a basic requirement for achieving the optimal aging stage. But it's important to keep an eye on it yourself. Speaking from personal experience: it's helpful to keep this in mind when storing your wine. For example, you can store wines that are "ready" sooner in the most accessible places, and vice versa.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do you store red?
  Store bottles horizontally in a cool, dark and stable place.
  
• How long does it last?
  Typically 2–5 years for everyday reds, years to decades for quality wines; opened bottles 2–10 days depending on method.