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How to store wine at home: keep it in perfect condition, with or without a cellar
The five things that spoil wine in storage, the conditions sommeliers are taught to keep, and how to choose between a cupboard, a wine fridge, a cellar or professional storage.
Updated October 2026
Rewritten by Alper Billik, Advanced Sommelier
4 min read
The short answer: keep wine cool, steady, dark, still and lying down. The Court of Master Sommeliers teaches a constant 10–13°C for long-term storage. For bottles you'll drink this month, a dark cupboard away from heat is enough. A wine fridge or a cellar matters when you keep wine for years.
The five enemies of stored wine
- Heat. The Australian Wine Research Institute reports faulty flavours after a year at 30°C, and visible changes within days above 40°C. It warns against anywhere that sits above 25°C for long periods. A hot car boot or a sunny shelf is the fastest way to ruin a good bottle.
- Temperature swings. Wine expands and contracts as it warms and cools, which can push the cork out and let wine seep. A room that is a little warm but steady is better than one that swings.
- Light. Light causes a fault called light-struck: cooked cabbage and wet wool where the fruit should be. Wine in clear glass is the most at risk, and sunlight is far stronger than lamps.
- Dry or damp air. Too dry and corks shrink and let air in; too damp and labels rot and corks grow mould.
- Smells and vibration. The Court's standards say to keep wine away from strong smells, which can get through a cork, and away from vibration.
The conditions to aim for
| Factor | Aim for | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | A constant 10–13°C (around 55°F) | Slow, even ageing; the cork stays put |
| Humidity | 50–80%, about 70% ideal | Corks stay moist; labels stay whole |
| Light | Dark | No light-struck faults, no faded labels |
| Position | Cork-sealed bottles lying down, label up | The wine keeps the cork moist; you know where sediment lies |
| Screwcaps and spirits | Standing is fine | No cork to dry out |
| Surroundings | Still, clean-smelling, free of pests | Nothing to shake the wine or taint the cork |
- Temperature
- Aim forA constant 10–13°C (around 55°F)
- WhySlow, even ageing; the cork stays put
- Humidity
- Aim for50–80%, about 70% ideal
- WhyCorks stay moist; labels stay whole
- Light
- Aim forDark
- WhyNo light-struck faults, no faded labels
- Position
- Aim forCork-sealed bottles lying down, label up
- WhyThe wine keeps the cork moist; you know where sediment lies
- Screwcaps and spirits
- Aim forStanding is fine
- WhyNo cork to dry out
- Surroundings
- Aim forStill, clean-smelling, free of pests
- WhyNothing to shake the wine or taint the cork
Where to keep it: four options
| Option | Good for | Budget |
|---|---|---|
| A dark cupboard or inside wall | Wine you'll drink within weeks or months | Free |
| A wine fridge or cabinet | A few dozen to a few hundred bottles, for years | Value to premium |
| A home cellar | A serious collection, kept for decades | Premium |
| Professional wine storage | Fine wine you won't drink soon, or don't have room for | A yearly fee |
- A dark cupboard or inside wall
- Good forWine you'll drink within weeks or months
- BudgetFree
- A wine fridge or cabinet
- Good forA few dozen to a few hundred bottles, for years
- BudgetValue to premium
- A home cellar
- Good forA serious collection, kept for decades
- BudgetPremium
- Professional wine storage
- Good forFine wine you won't drink soon, or don't have room for
- BudgetA yearly fee
- The cupboard: pick the coolest, darkest one, on an inside wall, away from the oven, the boiler and the fridge top. Not the kitchen worktop by the window.
- The kitchen fridge: fine for a couple of months, too cold and too dry for longer.
- The wine fridge: the easiest upgrade. See how to choose one.
- The cellar: see how to build a wine cellar.
- Professional storage: specialist firms keep wine in temperature-controlled warehouses. In the UK, wine can be stored in bond, with duty paid only when it leaves.
The real benefits of a cellar
- Wine ages slowly and evenly, the way the winemaker intended.
- You can buy age-worthy wines young and drink them when they are ready, instead of hunting for mature bottles later.
- Everything is in one place, organised and easy to count.
- Your best bottles are protected, from heat, light and the occasional borrower.
But be honest about what you drink. Most everyday wine is made to be enjoyed young, within a year or two. A cellar earns its place when you keep wines built to age.
Which wines are worth keeping
- Red: top Bordeaux, Burgundy, northern Rhône, Barolo and Barbaresco, Brunello di Montalcino, Rioja Gran Reserva.
- White: Riesling, Chenin Blanc from the Loire, top white Burgundy.
- Sweet and fortified: Sauternes, vintage Port, Madeira.
- Sparkling: vintage Champagne.
Buying older bottles
The Court of Master Sommeliers' advice for buying older wine works at home too: ask how the bottles were stored and when they left the winery, and look at every bottle for label damage, leaks and ullage (a low fill level, a sign that air has got in). A cork pushed up or a sticky capsule usually means the wine has been too warm. If a bottle tastes wrong, here is how to tell what went wrong.
Racks for any of these spaces: how to choose a wine rack online and metal wine racks.
Questions people ask
What is the best temperature to store wine?
A constant 10–13°C (around 55°F), for red, white and sparkling alike. Steadiness matters more than the exact number.
Should red wine be stored at room temperature?
No. Store all wine at cellar temperature. Red wine is served warmer, at about 15–18°C for medium and full-bodied reds, but it keeps best cool.
Should wine be stored on its side?
Bottles with corks, yes, so the cork stays moist. The Court of Master Sommeliers says not to keep them upright for more than a few weeks. Screwcaps can stand.
Can unopened wine go bad if it isn't refrigerated?
Not in days. An unopened bottle keeps well in a cool, dark place. It is heat, light and big temperature swings that spoil it.
Is a wine cellar worth it?
If you keep age-worthy wine for years, yes. If you drink what you buy within a few months, a dark cupboard or a small wine fridge is enough.
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