Blick answers your wine questions: “Should I store wine bottles horizontally or upright?”

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The answer to Blick reader Rosemarie Bühlmann’s question essentially depends on capping wine bottles. For example, there is less leeway for bottles sealed with natural corks than for wines with screw caps. Among other things, there are exciting differences in port wines.

Wine bottles closed with natural cork should be stored horizontally to keep the bottom of the cork moist. Storing upright can cause the cork to dry out, become porous, and increase its oxygen supply. This causes the wine to age and spoil more quickly.

These caps are made from plant-based materials or petroleum-based plastics. As a rule, they seal the wines hermetically and do not allow oxygen exchange. Such wines can theoretically be stored upright, but the majority of wines sealed with synthetic material are intended for rapid consumption and do not benefit much from storage.

Wine bottles with screw caps can also be stored upright without any problems.

Like most commercially available wines, sparkling wines do not have the advantage of being stored in the bottle after purchase. The principle of horizontal storage for bottles sealed with natural corks also applies here.

Port wines intended for additional bottle storage, such as Vintage Port, are normally closed with a natural cork and benefit from horizontal bottle storage. In contrast, Tawny or Ruby Port wines are usually closed with a short cork stopper and should definitely be stored upright.

Source : Blick