How to Properly Store Wine in Your Storage Unit

When you’re brainstorming where to store wine, you might not think of a storage unit first. But in fact, a climate-controlled storage can be the ideal space to keep your wine collection safe. 

You’ve probably put some money into your wine collection, so you’ll want to keep it safe and store it properly. To make storing your wine in a storage unit easier than ever, we’ve made this handy guide with everything you need to know. 

The Many Benefits of Storing Wine

So you’re thinking about storing some or all of your wine collection, but aren’t sure what the benefits are. Here are a few common benefits and use cases:

• Storing wine off-site can provide extra inventory for restaurants, catering companies, smaller wineries, wine shops, or other direct sale businesses needing commercial storage unit space.
• For wine enthusiasts who might not have a lot of space at home, personal self storage units can be a great way to store their wine collections.
• Letting a wine age in a safe space that’s kept at a consistent temperature is one of the best ways to subtly enrich the flavor of a wine, increasing its value.
  

Why You Should Use Climate-Controlled Storage

If you’re planning on storing your wine in a storage unit, it’s critical that you take advantage of a climate-controlled option. That’s because wines can easily and quickly go bad if they’re not kept in the proper temperature and environment. In particular, you should know that:

• The temperature in your wine storage space should remain around 55 degrees Fahrenheit, and should never rise above 75 degrees Fahrenheit. At higher temperatures, wines can begin to oxidize, while temperature fluctuations can result in seepage, and can even push the cork out, ruining the entire bottle. 
• Similarly, humidity levels in your wine storage space should be kept around 70%. This will prevent the cork from drying out, leading to evaporation and flavor changes. In particularly damp spaces, labels can experience damage, and improperly sealed wines can even develop mold. Yikes!

Check out our climate-controlled storage units for more information about climate-controlled storage units near you.

How To Properly Store Wine

You’ll only get the benefits of storing wine if you’re doing it properly. Here are a few things to keep in mind to guarantee you get the most out of your wine storage situation: 

• Make sure to avoid direct sunlight and keep your bottles in a dark, dry place. Too much UV light from either the sun or fluorescent bulbs can easily impact the quality and flavor of your wine.
• Store your wine bottles in a space with a consistent temperature (typically around 55 degrees Fahrenheit) and humidity.
• Store your wine horizontally. This will help slow oxidation of the wine and will keep the cork moist, while preventing sediment from approaching the neck of the bottle.
• Keep wines in storage away from any strong odors. 
• Avoid storing wine in a fridge for long periods of time, as the cool temperatures can damage the wine.
  

Frequently Asked Questions

To make things easier for you, we’ve brought together answers to some commonly asked questions about how to store wine below.

Is it OK to store wine at room temperature?

Generally, the answer is no. The ideal temperature for storing wine is 55 degrees Fahrenheit, or about 13 degrees Celsius. However, most wines can be stored for about 6 months at room temperature before any damage occurs.

How long can you keep wine at room temperature?

Wine can be stored for about 6 months at room temperature before any damage occurs, as long as it’s in a dry, dark space.

What’s the best temperature to store wine at?

The best temperature for storing wine is 55 degrees Fahrenheit, or about 13 degrees Celsius. However, you can safely store your wine in a space anywhere between 45 degrees Fahrenheit and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, as long as the temperature doesn’t regularly fluctuate.

How long does wine last unopened?

That depends on the type of wine. On average, an unopened bottle of wine will last between 1 and 20 years if stored in the proper conditions.

How should I store my wine?

Ideally, you should store your wine in a dry, dark, cool place that maintains a temperature of around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. If space permits, wine bottles are best stored on their sides, rather than upright.

Should wine be stored upright or on its side?

If you’re planning on drinking a bottle shortly after you purchase it, there’s not much harm in briefly storing it upright. But for all long-term wine storage, the bottle should always be stored on its side.