How to Properly Store Your Wine at Home

Wine gets better with age, but not every bottle you buy is for long-term aging. Whether you want to keep your wine for several days or a year, you must do it correctly. But, what if you don't have a cellar or a wine fridge? Don't worry. You can still store your wine correctly and preserve its taste using a few basics.

If you don't know where to start, you can't go wrong with these seven tips: 

1. Always Check the Temperature

Temperature is among the most important factors to consider when it comes to wine storage. Storing your wine at the ideal temperatures below seventy degrees F helps keep it cool, so the taste is preserved. With one of the best wine cooling systems, you can ensure your wine won't lose its like no matter how long you intend to keep it stored. The best part is that you can also build a wine cellar or hire an expert to do it for you. 

Although most experts consider 55 degrees Fahrenheit the most suitable temperature, several degrees higher or lower won't hurt. However, please do not keep your wine below 25 degrees Fahrenheit, as it will freeze. Fluctuating temperatures can also cause the cork to shrink and expand, leading to spills. As you will see below, this is why keeping it in the fridge is also a no-no. 

2. Be Careful With Open Bottles

If you keep your wine for another day, ensure you recork it tightly. To retain its flavor, put the cork back immediately. If you can't recork it, use some wax paper to ease the process. Another option is to use a rubber wine stopper.

Alternatively, use a vacuum pump to suck out the air to prevent oxidation completely. Still, you can keep the leftover wine in smaller bottles, which don't leave room for air.

3. Keep in a Dry, Dark Place

Light can cause the wine to oxidize and change its taste. So, keep your wine in the darkroom, away from the sun or fluorescent fixtures. The risk of oxidation is exceptionally high for white wine, which is in clear bottles. Wine in darker bottles is safer.

If you don't have a dark room, wrap the wine with a cloth and put it in a box. But, if you can afford a cabinet with UV-resistant doors, the better. Apart from changing the taste of wine, sunlight can also damage labels. This damage makes it hard to tell the name of the wine.

4. Avoid Upright Position

To save space and keep the cork moist, keep your bottles horizontally. This method is best if you don't intend to take the wine in a few days. Do you have alternative screw caps and plastic corks? If so, you don't always need to store your bottles horizontally, but there is a good reason why it is beneficial to keep them on the side. Also, the best way to tell whether your wine is decanting is by keeping it horizontally. Get a tabletop wine rack to help you keep wine on its side.

5. Don't Store wine in the fridge

Are you planning on drinking your wine in a couple of days? You can keep the wine in your fridge. But, if it's for long-term storage, keep the wine out of the refrigerator. When in the fridge, wine is exposed to odors, and there's a risk of contamination from other foods.

For the best taste, keep your white wine in the fridge for three days. You can store it longer by a few more days if you use a wine pump to suck out the air. You can keep red wine for a few days, but not inside the fridge.

6. Be Aware of Expiration Dates

Just because wine tastes better with age doesn't mean it has no expiration date. Check the expiration date, also known as the "sell by," before storing your wine. This confirmation helps you to avoid keeping the wine past this date. 

On this note, wine expiry may vary with the type. With proper storage, red wine may last two to three years after the expiration date, while you can take white wine up to two years after it expires. Fine wine can go up to 20 years after. However, remember that most wine is meant to be taken not too long after bottling to preserve its taste and aroma.

7. Protect from Vibration

Also, vibrations disturb wine and impede its quality. Therefore, if you plan to keep your wine in the basement next to the laundry area, vibration from the washing machine is likely to damage it. Maintaining wine in the fridge might also expose it to shaking, preventing sediments from settling.

The chemical reactions that result from vibration can cause your wine to age faster and damage it. 

So, are you keeping your wine in the right conditions? If you're storing your wine in a cool place away from light, you're one step closer to preserving it longer. Additionally, storing wine on its side prevents oxidation, and recorking open bottles immediately preserves the flavor. Want to keep your wine longer? Store it on the steady ground that is vibration-free. With the above few tips, you can hopefully keep a collection of your favorite wines at home without worry.