Six Places You Can Store Unopened Bottles Of Wine

They say that fine wine gets better with time. Many good wines do tend to reveal more nuanced flavors over time, but those flavors will only improve over time if the wine is stored properly. If you are interested in starting a wine collection, or like to have a variety of unopened wine bottles in your home, then you must find a suitable place to store your wine.

When storing unopened bottles of wine in your home, find a cool and dark place. Wine should never be stored in heat, extreme cold, or in sunlight. Ensure your wine is stored horizontally, so the cork doesn’t dry out. A basement, dark cabinet, wine cooler, or anywhere climate-controlled with a wine rack should be a good place to store wine in the home.

Wine collecting is a fun hobby, but it can also get expensive. Some bottles of wine cost hundreds of dollars. Even if you only buy cheaper wines, you still want them all to taste great when they are finally opened. This is why you first need to know all the factors involved in keeping wine stored correctly.

Variables To Consider When Choosing Where To Store Wine

1. Light Levels

Natural light might be a desired quality inside your home, but it’s the last thing you want to expose your unopened wine to. UV light can break down wine quickly, diminishing the flavors even spoil the wine prematurely when it’s stored anywhere bright. Wine kept in the dark retains the most flavors and lasts the longest.

2. Temperature 

Temperature is another major factor to consider when searching for the perfect place to store wine in your home. Warm temperatures arenot ideal for wine storage for several reasons. For one, high temperatures can alter and destroy the flavor of your wine. 

It can also affect the storage of the wine, forcing bubbles to pop corks open, and wax to melt. It can also force wine to age prematurely, which can also cause it to spoil. If you store wine in an area that reaches below freezing, the juice can freeze, and the bottle of wine may explode.

3. Humidity Levels

Humidity is another aspect to think about when choosing the perfect spot in your home to store your wine. You should aim for a humidity level around 60% to a maximum humidity of 70%. This will prevent the wine corks from drying out. If your home is too humid, however, fungus can form and destroy your wine

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4. Safety And Stability

Wine is expensive and fragile. Therefore, it’s important to consider its location. Ensure there is plenty of space between a wine rack and other objects. It’s best to find a location that is off limits to pets and young children. A stable location that has little foot traffic is an ideal choice.

5. Number Of Bottles You Want To Store

The last factor you need to think about when deciding where to store your unopened wine bottles is the number of bottles you want to store. It is fairly easy to store a case (six to twelve bottles) of wine. 

If, however, you want to store one hundred or more bottles, then you need to ensure you have plenty of space. One hundred bottles won’t safely fit in a small pantry, or even a large wine fridge.

Six Places You Can Store Unopened Wine Bottles In Your Home

1. Your Basement

If you have a cellar or basement space in your home, consider dedicating a portion of it to wine storage. Underground spaces tend to be perfect for keeping wine. They are cooler and have fewer temperature fluctuations. 

Cellars also tend to be a bit more humid (but not too humid). They also have minimal direct sunlight. If possible, carve out a small area in your cellar to safely store wine, as this is possibly the best location in your home to keep wine.

2. A Climate-Controlled Pantry

If underground isn’t an option, the next best bet is an enclosed and climate-stable location like a walk-in pantry. A pantry works well for a few reasons. First, it has a door you can close. This keeps animals and kids away from expensive wine, and also shelters it from UV light. The climate-control prevents weather extremes from damaging the wine.

3. Invest In A Wine Fridge

Some wine should be kept at specific temperatures. This is true of some expensive wines that you age for years. Consider investing in a wine fridge. Many wine fridges allow you to store bottles at different temperatures. This allows you to store some bottles in the fridge for drinking, and others for long-term storage.

4. Buy A Wine Cabinet

If you want to have a home for your wine bottles as well as all your wine accessories, like glasses and decanters, then consider investing in a wine cabinet. A wine cabinet can be small or vast, depending on your needs. You can display your wine glassware in the visible shelving while storing unopened bottles in the allotted space below.

5. Find A Dark Closet

If you don’t have the budget for a wine cellar or cabinet installation, then opt to store your wine in a dark and cool closet somewhere in your home. Closets are safe from light, and as long as they are ventilated, they have suitable temperatures and humidity for wine storage. Just remember to keep the wine horizontal.

6. Install A DIY Wine Rack

If you want to turn your wine storage needs into a fun DIY project, then build yourself a wine rack. You can easily make a wine rack on nearly any budget. First, determine your budget, location, and approximate size. 

From there you can choose a variety of building methods. Just remember to place this wine rack in a dark and cool location once you finish building it.

Four Rules To Remember When Storing Wine At Home

1. Keep Bottles Horizontal

One important rule for wine storage, especially long-term storage, is storing your wine horizontal. This allows the liquid to stay in contact with the cork and prevents it from cracking. Turning your bottles every few months is a good idea as well, as it prevents sediment buildup.

2. Light Is The Enemy

Remember that light can diminish flavors and even spoil your wine. If you can’t keep the location free of light, consider covering the wine for added protection. It will also help keep dust off the bottles.

3. Some Wine Varieties Age Better Than Others

If you plan to store your wine for many years, make sure you are selecting the best wine for aging. Not all wine ages well. Many white wines should be consumed quickly. And several red varieties are better the first five years after bottling. Only age wine that is known to increase in flavor and value as it ages.

4. Don’t Buy More Than You Can Store

If you love wine, it can be very tempting to buy a case every time you visit a vineyard or specialty wine shop. While this is possible if you have a giant wine cellar, you should probably buy less if you only have a small area dedicated to wine storage. A good rule of thumb for storing wine is to only buy what you have space for — and drink the rest.

Final Thoughts On Places You Can Store Unopened Wine Bottles

Wine is a beverage that has been loved by people all over the world for thousands of years. If you have a particular interest in wine and enjoy collecting it, then it’s essential you find a suitable place in your home to store it. Always choose cool and dark places with moderate levels of humidity. 

A basement works great, as does a wine fridge, a climate-controlled kitchen pantry, or even a dark and cool closet with space in it. Just remember to keep your wine horizontal if you plan to store it for longer than a year.

Related Guides:

• Tips To Make Your Homemade Wine Taste Better
• How Much Does It Cost To Build a Wine Cellar?
• Wine Rack Dimensions for the Right Height (with Photos)