For a serious wine collector the ideal place to store wine is a cool, dark cellar. Wine is particularly sensitive to exposure to light and heat. Heat can trigger chemical reactions in a wine, speeding up the maturing process. Light can also negatively affect the taste of wine, especially sparkling wine. Thus, wine is sold increasingly in almost black bottles and champagne is often wrapped in tissue paper.

Wine bottles should be stored horizontally to keep the cork moist and swollen, filling the bottleneck. If the cork dries out and shrinks, allowing air inside, it can spoil the wine. Humidity is also important as it can help the corks from drying out. The perfect humidity is about 75-80%. Some wine experts recommend storing bottles at an angle, so that both the wine and the air bubble are in contact with the cork. This will keep the cork moist during any temperature fluctuations - a serious hazard for wine storage - result in air and not wine.

Temperature fluctuation is harmful because of expansion and contraction of fluid content which can affect the cork. Sometimes the poor quality of a cork will not for an airtight seal.

The ideal temperature for wine storage is approximately 40-59F (10-15C). This temperature keeps wine cool, allowing it to slowly mature, developing an interesting character and complexity in bouquet, changing flavor, and a softening of the aroma. Below 25F, (–4C), wine can freeze, pushing the cork out; above 77F (25C), can harm wine forever. Note that vibrations (for wine with sediment or sparkling wine) and excessively strong smells are not good for wine either.

Wine can be stored in a basement, an attic, or under the stairs, away from heating boilers, preferably in a wooden wine cases or in a strong cardboard box. A good wine rack will last long time and it will store wine at the proper angle. There are useful ‘artificial’ cellars, humidity-controlled cabinets (wine vaults), where red and white wines are kept at their recommended temperature.