Tips on Storing Wine When the Weather Gets Warm

by Laura Conde, wine writer

Temperature is a key variable when it comes to storing wine properly, along with humidity and light exposure. So, when the weather gets warm, we must be particularly attentive to the little home “wine cellar” we have been assembling over the year (or years), because high temperatures – to put it simply – multiply the speed at which chemical reactions occur. And this can end up ruining our wines. 

What’s the best course of action? For one, let’s take advantage of the high temperatures to open those whites and rosés – the perfect tipple this time of year! – and, if we take a trip, bring back local wines from wherever we go to stock up our cellar. If we’re still left with unopened bottles, it’s important to heed these tips to store them under optimal conditions once the heat hits. 

Celeste Rosé  is the ideal rosé for summery pairings 

Choose the coolest place in the house

Basements, garages, storage closets are all good wine storage spots. If none of these are an option, pick the coolest place in the house to store the bottles. Keep in mind though that the wines might still not make it through the heat unscathed. One good option is a wardrobe in the living room, preferably near the air conditioner (if we have one and usually have it on). Make sure to avoid places like the kitchen where temperatures can shift suddenly, even more so if we keep our bottles near the oven or stove. 

A wooden shelf with a home collection of wines, creating a rustic and cosy atmosphere

Keep in mind that the ideal wine storage temperature is between 10-14ºC with a humidity of around 70%.  Ideally, we would come as close as possible to this number although this can get complicated in summer, even if we have cool places at our disposal.  

Avoid sunlight

Es importantísimo evitar la exposición a la luz solar directa, así que siempre es mejor guardar los vinos en armarios si no disponemos de vinoteca. Si tenemos habitaciones sin ventanas en la casa en las que no entra el sol también es una buena opción utilizarlas de bodega, sobre todo cuando suben los termómetros.   

Keep bottles horizontal

It is absolutely essential to avoid exposing the bottles to direct sunlight, so it’s best to store the wines in wardrobes if we don’t own a wine rack or storage cabinet. If we happen to have windowless rooms in our homes, they also lend themselves well to wine storage, especially once the temperatures go up.  

Keep bottles horizontal

For wine to conserve all its properties, it must remain in contact with the cork, so we should always store our bottles in a horizontal position, as long as they haven’t been opened. This will keep the cork moist and enlarged, thereby preventing oxygen (the main culprit of spoiling wines) from entering the bottle. 

Wooden shelf with Celeste Crianza and Celeste Reserva with decorative elements

After opening a bottle…

If we open a bottle but don’t drink all the wine, we should reseal it using the original cork and store it in the fridge – but make sure it doesn’t stay in there for too long. It’s best to drink it within the next few days. 

A temperature-controlled wine cabinet

If we have valuable or particularly cherished wines, and we don’t want the heat to affect them, and we’re willing to make an investment, we can opt for a temperature-controlled wine cabinet and install it at home. This way we can ensure our wines are stored correctly year-round (this goes for winter too, because wine is affected by very cold temperatures as much as by very high ones). 
We can find good options on the market starting at 100 euros, making this an excellent investment for wine lovers who don’t want to run the risk of external factors ruining their wines.

Professional services

Another option, aimed at high-end wines, is keeping them at La Cripta in Igualada (Barcelona), a private storage space where wines are kept three storeys below ground under excellent temperature conditions (between 12ºC and 19ºC) with constant controlled humidity throughout the year.