Wine storage tips you need to know

If you are a wine lover and have a collection of bottles gathering dust in a forgotten corner then maybe you need to rethink how you are treating it to ensure it is perfect when you come to enjoy it. ​

Here are some top tips for storing your wine correctly:

Keep your wine at the right temperature
Storing your wine at too high a temperature (anything over 21°C) can affectively 'cook' the wine and mean you lose flavour and aroma. Storing it at too low a temperature (under -4°C) will make it freeze and accelerate the ageing process. The ideal temperature is between 7°C and 18°C but you can check with your wine manufacturer if you are unsure. The most important thing to ensure is that the temperature is stable as fluctuations can cause contraction and expansion in the cork and lead to air entering the bottle (or worse, allow wine to seep out). 

Wine prefers darkness to light
Keep your bottles away from light and UV rays to keep them at their best. Sunlight in particular damages the flavours and aromas of the wine if you have a bottle close to a window, move it away now!

No good vibrations 
Vibrations from stereos, washing machines or similar will disturb the sediment which is essential for ageing wine. For wine, there is no such thing as good vibrations. 

Store bottles horizontally 
If you plan to store your wine long-term you should store bottles horizontally. This will mean the cork won't dry out so there is less chance that air will enter the bottle. There's no harm in storing screw-top wines vertically if you wish. 

Invest in a wine cabinet
If you are buying wine as an investment, a wine cabinet is a necessity. A good wine cabinet will ensure no UV rays reach your wine, that the temperature is steady and vibrations aren't present. So all you have to do is sit back and wait for its quality to increase. Not sure where to start? We can help you find the perfect storage unit for your new kitchen. 

Don't throw out opened wine
You can extend the life of any open bottle of wine by using a rubber stopper. This can extend the shelf life to between 3-5 days. This guide can help you find the best wine stopper.