Store Wine Like An Expert

You've bought the wine you want, but where should you store it? Does it go in the fridge or need a cellar? Can a bottle be stored standing up? If you want to preserve the good aroma of your wine, pay attention to a few important things: The room temperature, humidity, brightness and type of wine.

Why correct storage is important with wine

You might think it's always best to store wine in the fridge. That's not a bad approach in itself, because room temperatures over 21 degrees Celsius accelerate the ripening process and have a negative effect on the taste. However, too low a temperature also prevents the wine from developing its aroma properly. Problems can also arise from storing wine alongside strong-smelling foods since it can absorb surrounding odours. Finally, problems can also arise if the wine bottle is upright in the fridge and closed with a cork. If a wine bottle is stored upright, no moisture gets into the cork. It will then dry out and the wine will oxidise. However, short-term storage in the refrigerator is harmless.

Storing wine: General principles

To keep the cork moist, we advise storing the wine horizontally. However, due to the scarcity of cork, plastic corks or screw caps are widespread. In the case of bottles that have not been closed with a cork, it does not matter whether they are stored horizontally or upright. You should also make sure to store wine in the dark. Wine is also more often sold in coloured than white glass bottles because the darker glass keeps out more UV rays. Ideal places for storage include your own cellar, pantry or a special wine refrigerator. The minimum humidity for storing wine is 30 percent. 50 or more is better.

How should different types of wine be stored?

As a rule of thumb, in addition to the alcohol content, tannins determine how long a wine can be stored. Especially powerful, high-quality wines with a high tannin content change in taste over time. Maturing in barrique barrels also makes wine more durable. A fruity Riesling like our Riesling Ried Gaisberg 1.ÖTW Riesling from Schloss Gobelsburg, for example, can be stored for one to two years before consumption, while five years of storage pay off for stronger wines such as the 2015 Merlot from Weingut Bernhard Ernst. More powerful wines like the Barolo DOCG 2014 Trentaquattro from Massimo Rattalino only develop their character after five to ten years. Finally, lovely Spätlese and Auslese wines take a little longer than ten years to reach the ideal level of maturity.

Tip from the 9wines editorial team

An insider tip: Buy several bottles of the same vintage in order to store the wine for several years. Then you and a few friends can taste the differences between different bottles. You will be amazed how different bottles of the same wine can mature! And luckily, at 9wines.uk you can get wonderful wines. Regardless of whether the bottles have been stored for a long time or are enjoyed straight away, you're guaranteed 100% enjoyment! ;-)

Photo credits: Hermes Rivera via Unsplash