No matter what your wine of choice is, storing your wine correctly is essential.  Simply placing
your favorite bottle in a wine rack or the family fridge for a year will drastically alter the taste.  And when you pop the cork for that special occasion, it will no longer express that
wonderful aroma, taste or finish you remember.  A wine bottle refrigerator or wine bottle cooler is vital.  Wine is a perishable commodity.  But properly caring for and storing your wine
in a wine bottle refrigerator will protect your treasure.

Step 1:  Decide how long you plan to store your wine

Generally, short term storage of 3 to 6 months (for wines you enjoy almost daily or for cheaper, less cherished wines) a wine rack located on an interior wall in an area with fairly stable room temperature may suffice, but even then a countertop wine bottle cooler is suggested.  Medium term storage of your quality wines of greater than 6 months but less than 5 years will require a wine bottle refrigerator or wine bottle cooler that maintains consistent temperature (between 45° and 65°) and  humidity of between 50 – 75% humidity.  Long term storage of cherished and more expensive wines (sometimes decades or longer) will require a specialized wine cellar or a dedicated wine bottle refrigerator that is vibration free and maintains a consistent temperature of 55° and humidity of 75%.

Step 2: Follow correct storage conditions

Regardless of the length of storage the same rules apply.  First and most critical is that the wine bottles should be laid horizontally (not upright).  This prevents the cork from drying out, this insuring the cork remains moist.  All wine bottle coolers allow for this.

In addition, it is essential that the wines be kept vibration free to prevent disturbance of the natural sediments affecting the taste, texture and complexity of the wines; that's why wine bottle refrigerators use anti-vibration technology.  So, the top of the refrigerator or a place affected by traffic should be avoided.

Light can also negatively impact your precious wines.  This is the reason many wine bottles are green instead of clear and why the glass doors on most wine bottle coolers are tinted.  Too much light can react with the proteins in wine forming a haze, creating an unpleasant aroma and altering the integrity of the wine's taste.  Direct sunlight must be avoided. Tuck your treasure in a wine bottle cooler.

Lastly, when storing wines medium or long term, consider the wines surroundings.  If there are other foods or liquids (like blue cheese, garlic or fish) around the wine, those aromas can be absorbed by the wine itself.  So, the family fridge as stated earlier is not a stable environment for wine.  A dedicated wine bottle cooler or wine bottle refrigerator is a must to maintain the delicate balance of your cherished wines' aroma, taste, texture and complexity.

Step 3:  Enjoy

Open the door of your wine bottle refrigerator or wine bottle cooler and as a direct result of following these simple steps, when it's time to enjoy that special bottle of wine you will be able to savor the wine just as you remembered. 

Correct wine storage is fundamental for any serious wine lover, whether enthusiast or hobbyist.  Your cherished wines deserve a quality wine bottle cooler or wine bottle
refrigerator where multiple bottles can be preserved and protected.