Proper wine storage requires a stable temperature, protection from light and the right humidity. Whether you’re storing wine for daily use or long-term aging, it’s important to understand how storage conditions affect taste and quality.
Read DanishWine.com’s guide to wine storage and get tips and tricks.
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Improper storage damages the quality of wine. Light, temperature fluctuations and vibrations accelerate the aging of wine and impair its taste. The right storage gives the wine optimal conditions to develop.
At temperatures above 14°C the wine develops faster, while too low temperatures, below 4°C, can form tartrate (crystals in the bottle). Humidity between 70-75% protects corks from drying out and fungal attack, which can add off-flavors.
Proper wine storage requires more than just finding a random spot in your home. Wine is an agricultural product, made from organic plant material that needs to be treated like any other sensitive and perishable product. To ensure that wine retains its quality and flavor, it’s necessary to understand how temperature, light, vibration and humidity affect its development.
Temperature: A stable temperature is crucial, as fluctuations of more than 10°C can damage the wine. Ideally, the temperature should be between 12-14°C. Even small variations can “disturb” the wine and accelerate its aging, especially if the temperature rises. This means that storing in the kitchen or near a heat source is a bad idea.
Vibrations: Over time, even small vibrations, such as from refrigerators or air conditioning units, can affect the structure of wine. They can cause the particles in the wine to separate and affect its flavor. Red wines are particularly sensitive to this type of impact, which emphasizes the importance of choosing a quiet storage location.
Light and UV rays: Light is one of wine’s worst enemies. Even through the bottle, ultraviolet light can destroy the organic compounds in the wine. That’s why it’s important to store wine in a dark environment and avoid placing it in sunlight or under artificial light, which also gives off heat.
Humidity: The ideal humidity for wine storage is around 70%. This level keeps the corks moist and prevents them from drying out and letting air into the bottle. If you have a cellar or crawl space with natural humidity, this can be a cheap and effective solution. Screw cap wines do not require the same humidity, but should still be protected from light and vibration.
Bottle position: Bottles with corks should be stored horizontally to keep the cork moist and ensure a tight seal. On the other hand, wines with screw caps can be stored upright, saving shelf space.
To give your wine optimal conditions, follow these guidelines:
| Factor | Ideal conditions | Problems with deviations |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature range | 12-14 °C | Too high: Rapid aging. Too low: Tartrate and slow development. |
| Light | Dark, without UV rays | UV light changes taste and color. |
| Air humidity | 70-75 % | Too low: Dry cork. Too high: Mold in the cork. |
| Placement | Bottles lying down | Upright bottles dry out the cork. |
Store the wine in the dark, away from UV light and avoid vibrations. Use dark green bottles for better protection.
If you don’t have a cellar, you can store wine in a dark, cool cabinet. Place the wine away from heat sources such as radiators and ovens. If you use a regular refrigerator, avoid storing wine below 4°C to prevent tartrate formation (natural process where tartaric acid and potassium in wine form small crystals that can be mistaken for sediment or impurities, which can be visually unattractive).
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Depending on the living conditions, there are several options for storing wine. Here is an overview of the most common locations:
| Location | Advantages of location | Disadvantages | Recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|
| The apartment | Easily accessible | Lack of stable temperatures | Use dark cabinets or a wine fridge. |
| Basement | Stable temperature and darkness | Risk of moisture, requires ventilation | Use shelves and monitor humidity. |
| Garage | Wine fridge option | Large temperature fluctuations | Insulation and location away from chemicals. |
| Shed | Can be used temporarily | Light, moisture and temperature fluctuations | Use insulated cabinets for short-term storage. |
Apartments often lack stable temperatures and dark rooms, but the bedroom, deep in a closet, can be one of the best solutions. “The bedroom deep inside a closet is actually one of the coolest places in an apartment for many people.” The temperature is often more stable and there is less risk of light and vibration. Alternatively, a wine fridge can be an investment, especially if you want to store several bottles over a longer period of time.
Avoid storing wine in the kitchen, especially under hoods or close to ovens and radiators, as frequent temperature fluctuations and high humidity can damage the wine.
The cellar is often ideal for wine as it offers darkness and a relatively stable temperature. However, a cellar requires good ventilation to prevent mold. The humidity in cellars is often high, which can protect the cork, but overdoing it can lead to moisture damage. Make sure bottles are placed on shelves and monitor humidity levels to avoid mold.
A garage can be used for wine storage, but only if it is well insulated and away from chemicals like paint or gasoline. These can give off odors that the cork can absorb and ruin the taste of the wine. Install a wine fridge in the garage if necessary, as it can maintain optimal conditions.
Sheds are rarely ideal for wine storage as they are often exposed to large temperature fluctuations, moisture and light. If it is necessary to use a shed, you should invest in an insulated cabinet and only store the wine temporarily. Make sure the shed is shaded and free from vibrations.
A wine fridge (specially designed wine storage refrigerator with adjustable temperature and humidity) is an excellent solution for those who don’t have access to a wine cellar as it preserves the flavor nuances of wine. It provides:
Today, wine refrigerators can hold up to 200 bottles and newer models offer humidity control to avoid the “California syndrome,” where humidity below 30% dries out the cork. However, screw cap wines should be handled with care as impact to the cap can cause oxidation.
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Once you’ve opened a bottle of wine, it’s important to store it correctly to preserve the flavor:
| Wine type | Storage time | Wine recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Red wine | 3-5 days | Use vacuum pump and store in the fridge. |
| White wine | 3-5 days | Store in the fridge with the original stopper. |
| Sparkling wine | 1-3 days | Use champagne stopper to hold the bubbles. |
Wine with a screw cap is easier to store, but be careful not to bump the cap as this can lead to oxidation.
Wine bottles should be stored lying down to ensure the cork remains moist. A dry cork loses its elasticity, which can lead to air entering the bottle and cause oxidation. This is especially true for wine with natural cork, while screw caps and synthetic corks do not require the same treatment.
Dark green bottles protect wine from harmful UV rays that can change the taste and color. UV rays break down the chemical composition of wine, which especially affects wines with longer storage times. That’s why it’s important to store wine in the dark, even when the bottle is made of dark glass.
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