How to Store Fine Wine

All wine is natural, perishable and highly sensitive to its environment. Fine wine happens to be particularly vulnerable. Wines requiring longer periods to reach maturity also require longer periods of continual care and proper cellaring. Only under the most ideal conditions will fine wines maximize development of their aromas, flavors and complexity as their producers intended.

Temperature

• Fine wine should be stored at 55 to 58 degrees. Period. Higher temperatures prematurely age wine. Faster aging may cause undesirable chemical reactions, which may produce off tastes.
• Higher temperatures accelerate the aging process dramatically. Storing wine at 59 degrees ages it 50% faster than 55 degrees.
• For example, 3 months of aging at 91 degrees is equivalent to 14 years of aging at 55 degrees. Three months of aging 73 degrees is equivalent to 2 years of aging at 55 degrees.  This process can not be rushed.  (Experiments have been tried to cut down this lengthy process, to see if  the mature flavor nuances can be coaxed prematurely, but to no avail, unfortunately, wine's natural, evolutionary maturation process cannot be expedited).

Humidity

• Wine should be stored at a relative humidity of 70%.
• Lower humidity can cause corks to dry out. When corks dry out, they generally shrink and permit more air to enter the bottle, which can lead to premature aging and/or spoilage.
• Higher humidity is ok, except that may encourage mold, which can damage labels, and lower the perceived value of a bottle. Although some connoisseurs consider light signs a mold a sign of proper storage, as well as a signal of a potential savvy buying opportunity (sorry to say, every Wine Trust label is impeccable).

Vibration

• Continuous vibrations can upset the sediment and natural development of wine. Wines that are shaken are believed to throw off their sediment too soon. This offsets their 'balance' during aging.
• Try to resist the temptation to constantly pull wines (particularly from a home cellar) for casual observation. If you must show them off, get a glass door cellar for viewing. Or, pull it out to open and share. 

Light                                                                                                 

• Ultraviolet light and some forms of fluorescent light can be harmful to wine if exposed for even brief periods, and can prematurely age the wine.
• Most newer bottles now have UV filers; however many older bottles do not.

Position

• Horizontal. This ensures the cork is kept moist (to prevent it from drying out) and sediment collects in one spot, allowing for a clean pour.

Insurance

• Is your wine collection adequately insured? If not, its probably time to stop ignoring this important storage deficiency.
• There are combination policies that include both a blanket limit and scheduled items.
• Coverage for accidental breakage as well as other perils such as theft, fire, flood, earthquake and wind are usually advisable.
• Spoilage due to power outage or mechanical breakdown.
• Do not forget retail replacement cost - take into account market appreciation up to 150% the scheduled value.
• Worldwide coverage is ideal for wine stored in multiple homes and/or storage facilities.
• Possible in-transit coverage.
• New acquisitions coverage.