Cómo debes conservar tu vino en casa [7 consejos]

Storing wine well at home is no mystery, but there are a few details that make the difference. These seven tips will help every bottle keep all its flavour, whether it is still sealed or already open.

Before opening: how to store your bottles

A sealed bottle keeps for a long time if a few basic conditions are met. The key lies in stability and in protecting the wine from its three enemies: heat, light and sudden changes.

• 1. Control the temperature: find a cool, constant spot, around 12–16 degrees, away from radiators and heat sources.
• 2. Mind the humidity: a balanced environment stops the cork from drying out and letting air in.
• 3. Keep away from light: store the bottles in dim light; direct light degrades wine.
• 4. Lay them down: with natural-cork wines, the horizontal position keeps the cork moist and airtight.

After opening: how long each wine lasts

Once uncorked, the clock starts ticking, but not all wines fade at the same pace. As a rough guide:

• Whites and rosés: they hold up for about two or three days in the fridge, well sealed.
• Young reds: a similar time if you keep them away from light and heat.
• Crianzas, reservas and gran reservas: they resist two or three days sealed with their cork, in a cool, dark place.
• Sweet and fortified wines: they usually last weeks thanks to their higher concentration of sugar and alcohol.

Tricks to extend the life of open wine

Here are the three tips that complete the list:

• 5. Reseal it well: put the cork back or use an airtight stopper as soon as you have served.
• 6. Into the fridge: cold slows oxidation in reds too; just remember to take them out a while before serving again so they recover their temperature.
• 7. Less air, better: if you have little wine left, transferring it to a smaller bottle reduces contact with oxygen and preserves it longer.

The rule that sums it all up

Stable cold, darkness and the least possible contact with air. With those three principles in mind, you will get the most out of every bottle, from the everyday red to that reserva you are keeping for a special occasion. And if wine is your passion, there is no better way to understand it than to see it born: discover wineries to visit in our complete guide.