How to Store Fine Wine Properly

Fine wine needs consistency more than elaborate treatment. For long-term cellaring, keep bottles at a steady temperature in the low to mid-teens (°C), at around 70% relative humidity, in the dark, away from vibration, with cork-sealed bottles lying on their side.

The longer you plan to keep a wine, the more these conditions matter. In Brisbane, temperature is usually the hardest to control at home. This guide explains each condition, why it matters, and when professional storage is worth considering.

Ideal wine storage conditions at a glance

What temperature should wine be stored at?

A steady temperature in the low to mid-teens is the accepted standard for long-term cellaring. Traditional cellars sit between 10 and 16°C, and our expectations of how a well-aged wine should taste are based on that range (GCCA).

Heat is the main risk. Wine ages through slow chemical reactions, and warmth speeds them up. The Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI) advises that storage above 25°C for long periods, or above 40°C even briefly, can affect wine quality (AWRI Technical Note 09).

Stability matters as much as the number itself. When temperatures swing, the wine expands and contracts in the bottle, which can push wine past the cork and shift the stopper. A cellar that holds steady slightly above the ideal is generally preferable to one that fluctuates around it.

Does humidity matter for wine storage?

It matters for bottles sealed with natural cork. Most Australian wine is now sealed under screw cap, and for those bottles humidity has little effect on the wine itself.

For cork-sealed wine, around 70% relative humidity is the long-standing cellar benchmark. Very dry air can dry corks out over many years. Very damp air encourages mould and damages labels and cartons, which affects value if you ever sell the wine.

Why should wine be kept in the dark?

Sustained exposure to sunlight or strong artificial light can damage wine, and clear or lightly tinted glass gives the least protection. The AWRI lists light exposure alongside temperature and humidity as a storage factor that affects wine (AWRI).

That rules out many of the places wine ends up at home: kitchen benches, garages, laundries and racks beside windows. A rack in a bright living room can look beautiful, but consider what those bottles will go through across several Brisbane summers.

Should wine bottles be stored on their side?

Store cork-sealed bottles on their side for long-term cellaring, so the wine stays in contact with the cork. Screw-capped bottles can be stored upright or on their side.

Keep bottles away from constant vibration and movement where you can. Wine does not need total stillness, but the top of a fridge, a spot beside a washing machine or a busy hallway is not the place for a bottle you plan to keep for a decade.

Why keep a record of your cellar?

Because forgotten bottles tend to be opened past their best. Once a collection grows beyond a few dozen bottles, it becomes easy to lose track of what you own, where it sits and when it will be ready to drink.

A useful cellar record lists each wine, its vintage, its location, when you bought it and its likely drinking window. A spreadsheet, a cellar app or a managed service will all do the job, as long as the record exists and stays current.

Is home storage good enough in Brisbane?

For wine you will drink within a few months, a dark cupboard in the coolest part of the house is usually fine. For longer cellaring, a dedicated wine fridge or a properly built cellar can do the job well.

Brisbane's climate makes long-term storage without active cooling difficult. Through summer, most homes and nearly all garages sit well above the ideal range for weeks at a time.

Professional storage is worth considering when:

• the value of the collection would make a loss costly
• you plan to hold wines for many years
• you are running out of space, or cannot keep home conditions stable
• you want the collection received, catalogued and managed for you

How Wineaway stores wine

Wineaway is Queensland's longest-established and largest fine wine retail and storage operator, trading in Brisbane for 26 years. Our purpose-built cellar in Bowen Hills is kept at 14 to 15°C and around 70% relative humidity all year round.

Every wine is received, inspected and catalogued before it goes into the cellar. Clients can then view and manage their collection at any time through their own online cellar.

Find out more about wine storage at Wineaway

Sources

• AWRI Technical Note 09: The effects of heat and light on wine during storage
• AWRI: Transport and storage
• GCCA Commodity Storage and Handling Manual: Wines (2024)