Proper Wine Storage

While other alcohol, such as vodka, can be stored at nearly any reasonable temperature, wine is a little more sensitive to heat.

The optimal temperature for storing fine wine in a cellar or cabinet is about 55ºF — the default setting on all WhisperKOOL systems — if you plan on preserving it. That mark comes from France, where wine was traditionally stored in caves with a natural underground temperature around 55ºF. While red wines are perfect at 55ºF storage, it’s OK to store white wines a couple degrees cooler.

Any higher than that and the wine will start to age faster than normal, degrading its taste. You will notice if your wine is being stored too warmly if it starts to brown, showing that it has started to oxidize from exposure to heat. If the wine is stored much cooler than 50ºF, the aging process could go slower than normal, prolonging the time until the wine peaks.

It is important to keep a consistent temperature in your cellar to prevent bottle shock, which could hurt your wine.

However, temperature is just one key part of proper wine storage. Humidity is another major factor. Experts recommend a humidity percentage of roughly 70 percent. Much higher than that, and the wine bottle’s cork could gather mold. While the wine itself won’t be affected much by high humidity, it could deteriorate the label and the cork, which detracts from the wine’s aesthetics and resale value.

If the atmosphere around your wine cabinet or in your wine cellar is too dry, the cork could crack and let air get into the bottle — wine’s worst nightmare. Storing the bottle on its side will keep the wine in constant touch with the cork and prevent it from getting too dry.

It’s vital to also store your wine in a dark place, as UV exposure from light could affect it. The wine should also be separated from anything that might emit odors, which could seep in through the cork, or vibration, which would degrade wine’s maturation process.

But not all wines need to be stored for a long period of time. Generally, the cheaper wines are meant to be enjoyed sooner, as they won’t improve much as the years go on.