Where should I store the wine I don’t plan to drink immediately?
There are two types of wine you may not plan to drink immediately – wines you have purchased that are ready to drink, and wines designed to be aged. Most wines on the market today are designed to be ready to drink as soon as you purchase them. Keep these ready-to-drink wines away from direct sunlight and heat, any source of vibration, and lying on their sides. This will ensure that the cork will remain moist and therefore airtight. There is no need to store white wines or Champagne/sparkling wines in the refrigerator if you are not planning to drink them soon. A cool, dark place will suffice in the short term. Simply chill them before serving. If you accumulate wines designed to be aged, storage becomes critically important. The key conditions to keep constant are temperature (needs to be about 55 degrees) and humidity (70% – 80%). To achieve this at home, you may need to buy a special unit designed for storing wine or convert a closet. Consider a Vinotemp wine storage unit.
