White wine needs proper storage at home to maintain its flavour and quality over time. In this guide, you’ll learn the best practices for storing white wine – from keeping unopened bottles in the right conditions to preserving an opened wine for a few days. Following these tips will ensure your favourite white wines stay fresh and tasty until you’re ready to enjoy them.
How to Store Unopened White Wine
For unopened bottles, the goal is to keep the wine in a stable, cool environment so it maintains its original taste. Temperature, light exposure, and bottle position all affect a wine’s longevity. Here are some key tips for storing unopened white wine properly at home:
- Cool & Dark: Store white wine in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight and any heat sources. A cupboard or wine rack in a dim area works well.
- Steady Temperature: Aim for a consistent moderate temperature (around 7–15 °C if possible). Avoid extreme heat or cold, and prevent big temperature swings, which can spoil the wine.
- Lay Bottles Sideways: If the bottle has a cork, keep it on its side to keep the cork moist and sealed. (For screw-cap bottles this isn’t necessary.) Also, keep bottles still – minimise vibrations or jostling that could disturb the wine.
- Don’t Prolong Storage: White wines generally aren’t meant for long aging. Most are best enjoyed within a year or two of purchase. Don’t stash everyday whites for many years, as they may lose their fresh flavours.
In fact, many white wines – even quality ones – are crafted to be enjoyed young. For example, the Painted Cat Sauvignon Blanc is best enjoyed within 2 years of its harvest. It’s wise to buy wine in quantities you can drink within a couple of years. If you’re stocking up, consider buying by the case for value. (Bulkyway’s online white wine collection offers multi-bottle packs at discounted prices– perfect for keeping your home wine shelf well-stocked.)
How to Store Opened White Wine
Once you’ve opened a bottle of white wine, proper storage is crucial to preserve its remaining contents. An opened wine will start to oxidise when exposed to air, so you need to slow that process. Follow these steps to keep an opened white wine fresh for as long as possible:
- Reseal the Bottle: Immediately recork the wine bottle tightly with the original cork (or use a wine stopper). Minimising air contact is key.
- Refrigerate Promptly: Place the opened white wine in the fridge. The cold temperature slows down oxidation and keeps the wine fresher.
- Consume in 3–5 Days: Try to finish the opened white wine within about 3 to 5 days for best taste and aroma. Each day open, it will gradually lose some of its flavour and vibrancy.
- (Optional) Use Wine Preservers: If you have a wine vacuum pump or inert gas spray, use it after recorking. These tools remove or replace air in the bottle, which can help extend freshness by a day or two. However, even with these, an opened white wine won’t stay perfect indefinitely – it’s best to enjoy it sooner rather than later.
By following the steps above, you can get the most out of an opened bottle. Always remember: if the wine’s smell or taste has turned unpleasant or dull, it’s a sign it’s past its prime.
White Wine Storage FAQ
How long can I store white wine at home?
Most white wines can be stored for about 1 to 2 years in proper conditions before quality starts to decline. In a cool, dark place, your wine will stay fresh during this period. There are a few exceptions – certain high-end white wines (like fine white Burgundy or vintage Champagne, and some sweet wines) can age longer under professional cellar conditions. But generally, wine is best enjoyed young. Plan to drink your white wine within a couple of years of the vintage for optimal flavour and aroma.
Should white wine be stored in the fridge?
For long-term storage, no – a normal kitchen fridge is too cold and dry for storing unopened white wine over months. The average fridge runs about 3–4 °C, which can mute flavours and dry out corks. It also vibrates slightly, which isn’t good for wine. It’s better to keep unopened wine in a cool cupboard, wine fridge, or cellar around 12 °C. Reserve the kitchen refrigerator for chilling a wine a few hours before serving, or for holding an opened bottle for a short time. In short, store white wine in a cool, dark place normally, and use the fridge only to chill or temporarily store wine that’s already been opened.
