Storage Mistakes: How to (Not) Store Wine and Spirits
His key factors are as follows:
No direct sunlightAs cool and stable temperature as possibleLow vibration
“In my own apartment, I have a wine cooler for better bottles, but a majority of my wines are kept on racks in a dark foyer and they live just fine,” he says. Finally, it’s important to keep wines with natural corks stored on their side to maintain the cork’s integrity. According to Caporale, liqueurs can be treated exactly the same as spirits. “Some, like unopened bottles of limoncello and Irish cream, are often enjoyed chilled and may be stored in the refrigerator. But this is just so ice does not need to be added,” he says. “Refrigeration isn’t needed to preserve the liqueur.” Some low-ABV liqueurs (with about 20 percent ABV or 40 proof) may become slushy in very cold freezers, but this will neither hurt nor help them. “Just thaw before drinking—or enjoy them slushy!” Caporale adds.
