How to Store Wine at Home: 5 Useful Tips To Keep It Fresh

Whether it’s your favorite bottle of table wine or a rare investment-worthy vintage, store it carelessly, and it could soon taste like vinegar! 

Luckily, you don’t need to build an expensive cellar for your wine collection! 

There are simple ways you can store your wine bottles at home while retaining their delicious flavors and aromas.  We’ll reveal the best way to store an unopened bottle of wine and five helpful home storage tips. We’ll also tell you how to store an open bottle of leftover wine.

5 Tips on How to Store Wine at Home

Here are some simple tips to help you store wine correctly at home.

1. Ensure the Wine is Stored at the Right Temperature
2. Don’t Overchill Wine
3. Store Your Wine Bottles Horizontally
4. Store Wine Away from UV Rays and Vibrations
5. Ensure The Right Humidity Levels

1. Ensure the Wine is Stored at the Right Temperature 

Generally, the optimal wine storage temperature range is around 55-59ºF (13-15ºC). However, the ideal temperature varies for the different wine styles. 

• Red wine: Between 45°F- 65°F (7°C -18°C)
• White wine: Around 55°F (13°C)
• Sparkling wine: Between 39°F-43°F (4°C - 6°C)
• Fortified wine: Between 55°F- 57°F (13°C - 14°C) 

You should never store wine at a temperature below 25 °F (-4ºC) as the wine could freeze. 

You should also avoid storing bottles above 68°F (20°C) as this can accelerate the wine’s aging process and destroy their volatile compounds (the tiny molecules responsible for the wine’s aroma).

Additionally, the wine’s temperature should be kept as stable as possible. Fluctuations in wine storage temperature can cause the cork to expand and contract, allowing air to enter the bottle.

2. Don’t Overchill Wine

While keeping a wine bottle in the fridge for a few hours is acceptable, it’s not a good solution for long-term wine storage. 

Remember, the average household fridge temperature is usually well below 45° F which is not a suitable long-term wine storage temperature.

And if you leave your wine in the freezer for more than a few hours, the liquid may expand and push out the cork, resulting in oxidation. 

3. Store Your Wine Bottles Horizontally

Storing a wine bottle horizontally on a wine rack or in a wine fridge will keep the cork moist - essential for long-term storage. 

Keeping the wine in contact with the cork prevents the cork from drying out and shrinking. This keeps the air out and helps to preserve the wine. 

4. Store Wine Away from UV Rays and Vibrations

It’s important to keep wine bottles in the dark and away from direct sunlight since UV rays can affect the wine’s delicate flavor and aromas. 

Additionally, you should keep wines away from sources of vibration, such as your washer, dryer, or stereo. The vibrations can disturb the sediments in the wine bottle and cause complex chemical reactions that can dull the flavor of the wine.

5. Ensure The Right Humidity Levels

The ideal humidity level is between 50-70% for most wines. 

Extremes in humidity levels can impact the wine’s quality. Low humidity will dry out the cork, leaving the wine vulnerable to oxygen exposure. 

If the humidity is too high, it can encourage the growth of mold and mildew on the bottle’s exterior, which can damage the cork and the label.

Now, given all these factors, which is the best space to store your bottles?

Where’s The Best Place to Store Wine?

The best way to store an unopened bottle of wine is in:

• A wine refrigerator or a wine cooler: Although you can’t store as many wine bottles as you would in a cellar, a wine fridge or cooler is better than a household fridge for proper wine storage. The fridge maintains the ideal temperature and right humidity levels. It also ensures food odors don’t contaminate the wine. 
• A wine cellar: Wine cellars are perfect for storing larger wine collections. However, they are expensive to install and require more space.
• A professional wine storage facility: If you don’t have the budget or space for a wine cellar, you can use Vinovest’s wine storage facilities. They are strategically located next to the world’s best wine regions and provide a safe space for your wine collection under optimal storage conditions.

How Do You Store Open Wine Bottles at Home?

Most leftover wine can last a few days after opening if stored in a fridge. 

After recorking, an opened bottle of wine can last for:

• Red and white wine: 3-5 days
• Sparkling wine: 1-3 days 
• Fortified wine: up to 28 days 

To recork a bottle of opened wine, you can use: 

• Wax paper: Place wax paper around the original cork and slide it back into its position. 
• Wine stopper: Use a rubber wine stopper if the cork is splintered or damaged. 
• Wine vacuum pump: This device allows you to suck the air out of the open bottle and create a tight seal for wine preservation.
• Plastic wrap: If you don’t have the original cork or a wine stopper, wrap plastic and a rubber band around the opening to seal it tightly.

Opened bottles should be stored upright rather than horizontally on wine racks to stop the wine from seeping out.

The Easiest Way To Store Your Wine 

Wine cellars, professional wine storage facilities, and wine coolers offer optimal storage conditions for your wine collection. 

But remember, storing your wine collection at home can be risky. You have to consider many factors, and without the ideal conditions, you’ll potentially ruin your precious wine. 

If you’re a wine lover who owns an extensive wine collection, let Vinovest store your bottles in one of their state-of-the-art storage facilities instead. They can also help you buy and sell fine wine bottles from France, Napa Valley, and other famous wine regions around the globe.