Do store wine on its side. Storing wine on its side keeps the cork in contact with the wine and thus keeps the cork moist. A dry cork can create an imperfect seal with the neck and opening of the wine bottle and potentially let air in. This will oxidate the wine and cause premature aging.

Do store wine in a cool place. High temperatures are very damaging to wine. High temperatures will speed up chemical reactions within wine and dramatically shorten a wine’s life.

Do store wine in a dark place, especially if the wine is in clear bottles. Dark bottles are better than clear or green bottles at protecting liquids from light, but regardless, wine that is aging prefers dark areas.

Don’t store wine in your kitchen refrigerator. A kitchen refrigerator is too cold for most wines and can dry out a wine’s cork allowing air into the bottle. Further, a kitchen refrigerator is constantly opened and closed making it harder to maintain a constant temperature. Lastly, when wine is put in a kitchen refrigerator, it is usually stored standing up.

Don’t store wine bottles in a cabinet above an oven or microwave or in the kitchen. Heat from ovens, stoves and microwaves can shorten wine’s aging potential and or destroy its taste and balance.

Don’t store wine near windows, fireplaces or other appliances or areas that give off heat or are heat sources.

Wine coolers and wine refrigerators are excellent wine storage devices. A wine cooler can maintain a constant 55 degrees Fahrenheit temperature (which is the ideal long term storage temperature for wine) and provide a cool and dark environment. Lay wine bottles flat in a wine cooler or wine refrigerator and let the wine cooler do the rest.

Published 7/18/2009 12:00:00 AM

Tags: Temperature