What’s the best way to store wine before opening?
Most wine sold in the US is intended to be consumed within a few years. For these wines, all your everyday wines, there are only two things to consider – temperature and light. Warm temperatures and light speed up the rate of spoilage. A cool basement is a great place, but if you don’t have a basement, storing the wine near the floor (since heat rises) is a good alternative. Also, a consistent temperature is important, so avoid storing your wine near a stove or other appliances. To keep out light, store the wine under a bed, in a closet or in a cabinet. Finally, wine is typically stored on its side. This keeps the cork wet, helping to keep oxygen that can ruin the wine out of the bottle.
