Our Life in Wine

Most people think they need a fancy, temperature-controlled wine fridge or cellar to store their bottles properly. But here’s the good news: unless you’re sitting on a 500-bottle collection meant to age for decades, you can store your wine beautifully—and affordably—right at home. In fact, most wine bottles in the United States are consumed within ~2 weeks of purchase.  But if you do want to hold onto the good stuff for a few years, it can be kept perfectly sound no matter how big or small your home is.

Let’s walk through how to do it the right way.

1. You Don’t Need a Wine Fridge (Really!) Temperature fluctuations are the most important to avoid. 

A dark, cool space in your home—like a closet, cabinet, or under-bed storage—is often perfect for keeping wine stable. The key is consistency. Try to maintain a steady temperature and avoid frequent swings from hot to cold. Ideally wine collectors aim for around 55°F, however if that’s not feasible we would rather have a wine stored at a consistent temperature that you can keep that way year-round. 

Why it matters:

• High heat makes wine expand and can push the cork out, letting in oxygen and spoiling it.

• Too-cold temps can cause the liquid to contract, pulling air in and prematurely aging your wine.

In short: your bottles would rather live at a steady 65°F or even 70°F than swing wildly between 45°F and 80°F.

2. Avoid Heat Sources and Direct Sunlight

Remember those wine racks built above refrigerators or next to ovens? Cute idea, terrible spot.
Heat and light are the two biggest enemies of good wine. Both speed up aging and can flatten flavors.

Instead, store bottles away from kitchen appliances, vents, or sunny windows. A dark closet or back corner of a guest room often works perfectly.

Bonus tip: if your home gets warm in summer, just be sure your air conditioning keeps things moderate—and that should be enough to keep your wine at a steady temp.

3. Humidity: Helpful, but Don’t Overthink It

If you live somewhere dry (like Arizona or parts of California), very low humidity can dry out corks over time. If you’re storing bottles longer than a year or two, consider adding a small humidity control pack like Boveda 65% packs inside your storage box.

Otherwise, you don’t need to obsess—most homes naturally maintain safe humidity levels for short- to medium-term wine storage.

4. Keep Wine Away from Light

UV light can damage wine, dull its color, and mute its aroma. That’s why most red wines come in darker bottles. Most white wine is usually consumed much sooner than reds, so it doesn’t always have to go into a dark bottle. (There are some whites meant for aging, and often you’ll see those in green-tinted glass.) 

To avoid light exposure, store wine in a location that is not exposed to natural or artificial light. Especially avoid storing it in a direct sunbeam coming in your window – that has the double whammy of heat and light!  Store bottles in a shaded space or even in their shipping boxes to minimize light exposure. If they’re displayed on an open rack, turn the sides of the bottles away from direct light or windows, either with the top capsules facing out or bottom punts facing out. 

5. Store Bottles on Their Side

Laying bottles horizontally keeps the cork moist and airtight, preventing oxidation which would compromise the flavor of your wine. Maintaining this position also prevents the cork from drying out and crumbling when you try to open the bottle.  If you’re collecting more wines over time or just like things neat and tidy, consider a simple shelf or inexpensive wine rack or even a repurposed wooden crate for easy horizontal storage. 

The Big Picture

If you want a more dedicated setup, there are plenty of compact, affordable wine coolers starting around $200. They come in various bottle capacities and can fit neatly under counters or in closets. But for most people, as long as you keep your wine in a cool, dark, consistent environment, you’re golden.

At the end of the day, don’t let the lack of a professional cellar stop you from buying or enjoying wine. With a few simple adjustments—cool temps, low light, and minimal movement—you can keep your bottles tasting their best for years.

If you ever want personalized advice, feel free to reach out—we love helping people find practical, real-world solutions for their wine life.