As wine enthusiasts understand, wine is not just a fine drink but a fine art—it has the power to captivate the imagination and provoke the senses. However, like many other works of art, it can be delicate and in need of careful handling to preserve its beauty. Proper storage of a wine bottle takes into account four important factors: temperature, humidity, vibration, and light. Any of these elements can damage your wine before you even get a chance to taste it.

Temperature – Wine experts generally agree that the optimal storage temperature for both red and white wines is about 55° F. Wines age too quickly at higher temperatures, which will damage the quality of the wine. The 55° temperature comes from historical precedent—the underground caves in which French winemakers would store their wines tended to achieve this temperature naturally.

Humidity – Maintaining a constant humidity is key to preserving the taste of your wine. Generally, a humidity of 60-70% will discourage mold growth but will also keep the cork from drying out. A dried-out cork will allow air to enter the bottle, gradually oxidizing the wine into a bitter, acidic mockery of its true self.

Vibration – Part of the natural maturation process of wine involves sediments within the wine. If the sediments are allowed to settle at their own pace, the wine matures properly. If stored in an area hit by constant vibrations, either from appliances or traffic, this sediment will settle incorrectly, causing the wine to degrade.

Light – The glass of a wine bottle is already designed to block natural light from hitting the wine itself. However, the bottle alone cannot keep all light at bay, and sunlight will break down many of the complex molecules that give a wine its unique flavors.

While you may not need to store every bottle of wine you purchase, a serious wine collector knows that certain bottles will need special care before that day they can be fully savored. In our second part, we’ll take a closer look at our wine cellars and how they provide the ideal environment for wine storage.