How to Store White Wine

Co-authored by Samuel Bogue

Last Updated: December 12, 2020 References

The ideal temperature for storing white wine is between 45 to 65 °F (7 to 18 °C). Store your wine in a basement, interior closet, or wine fridge to keep it cool. Because white wine is very sensitive to light, store it in a dark place out of direct sunlight and fluorescent light. If you happen to open a bottle that you cannot finish, don't worry! Just re-cork the bottle and place it in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Keeping White Wine Cool

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Store the wine in your basement if you have one. Basements are ideal because they are cool, dark, and damp. Store your wine sideways in a wine rack in your basement. However, if your basement is dirty and filled with strong smelling odors, you may want to store your white wine somewhere else.^{[1]
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- Place your wine bottles against a subterranean wall if your basement is only halfway underground.
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Place your wine bottles in an interior closet instead of the basement. Closets are dark and stay relatively cool. Choose a hallway or stairway closet that has interior walls as opposed to exterior walls. Exterior walls face the outside, which may cause the temperature to fluctuate in the closet.
- If you do not have an interior closet space, then store your wine in a closet that has a shaded, northern wall.
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Use a wine fridge if you don't have cool, dark place to store your wine. A wine fridge will keep your white wine at the optimal temperature. While this is a convenient way to store your wine, it is also one of the more expensive ways. The cost of a wine fridge can range from $100 to $1,000.^{[2]
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- Because the temperatures are too cold and dry in a regular fridge, avoid storing unopened wine in the fridge to keep it cool.
EXPERT TIP

Samuel Bogue
Certified Sommelier
Samuel Bogue is a sommelier based in San Francisco, California. He is the Wine Director of the renouned Ne Timeas Restaurant Group and a wine consultant for other top restaurants in the San Francisco Bay area. He gained his Sommelier certification in 2013, and since then has been recognized as a Zagat "30 Under 30" award winner and a Star Chefs Rising Star.

Samuel Bogue
Certified Sommelier

A wine fridge is nice, but not essential. Sam Bogue, a sommelier, says: "A wine fridge is a great accessory because you can tune them very specifically to the temperature that your wine should be stored at. It also makes for very easy access. But you can keep your wines stored in the fridge and it's fine."
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Avoid storing your white wine in the kitchen. Because the temperature fluctuates in kitchens, garages, sheds, and laundry rooms, avoid storing your wine in these places. In addition to having a fluctuating temperature, garages and laundry rooms typically contain products that have strong odors like paint, solvents, and cleaning products, which can taint the taste of your wine.
- Heat from appliances and light in the kitchen make it one of the hottest areas in the house.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Additional Strategies

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Store your white wine away from direct light. White wine is very sensitive to ultra-violet (UV) light. Avoid placing your wine near or next to windows. Additionally, do no store your wine in an area that has fluorescent light. Fluorescent light also contains UV light.^{[3]
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2
Place the wine bottle on its side in a storage rack. Dry corks may shrink, allowing oxygen to enter the bottle and oxidize the wine. By storing your wine bottles on their sides, you can keep the cork moist. If the cork stays moist, then it is less likely to dry out and shrink.^{[4]
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Store your wine in a space that has 50 to 75% humidity. Like storing the bottle sideways, humidity will keep the cork moist, preventing it from drying out. If the area that you are storing your wine in is too dry, place a pan of water in the space to increase the humidity levels.^{[5]
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- While a humidity level of 75% or higher will not adversely affect your wine, it may cause mold to grow on the cork and label. If necessary, use a dehumidifier to decrease the level of humidity in the air.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Storing Opened White Wine

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Re-cork the bottle using the stained side of the cork. Avoid placing the "clean," external side of the cork into the wine bottle to re-cork it. Because the “clean” side may have particles of dust and other debris, you may taint your wine if you put this side of the cork into the bottle.^{[6]
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Pour the unused wine into a half bottle if you have one. Oxygen is what causes leftover wine to go bad. However, by decreasing the amount of oxygen the wine comes into contact with, you can extend the life of the wine. Use a funnel to pour your unused wine into a half bottle of wine. Screw the cap on and place it in the fridge.^{[7]
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- You can purchase screw-cap half bottles from your local grocery store or wine and liquor store.
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Remove the air from the bottle with a wine gadget. You can use a variety of gadgets to remove air from your wine bottles. Some of these gadgets are designed to suck oxygen out of the bottle, while others are designed to coat the surface of the wine with a gas to protect it from oxygen. The price of these tools can range from $13 to $300.^{[8]
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- You can find these tools online, or at your local wine store.
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Store the wine in the fridge for 3 to 5 days. If your wine is sealed with a cork, the fridge will keep it cool and fresh for 3 to 5 days. However, if you are using one of the wine tools to preserve your wine, it may last for up to 7 days in the fridge.^{[9]
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Smell the wine before drinking it. If you open your wine and it smells sweet, musty, or like vinegar, then it has gone bad. Additionally, if you see bubbles in your white wine or it tastes fizzy, then it has gone bad.^{[10]
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