Store Wine Upright or on Its Side? Cork vs Screw Cap

Should wine be stored upright or on its side?

Store wine sealed with a cork on its side, and treat screw cap wine as optional. Wine Spectator says a cork should stay in contact with the wine so it does not dry out, and that storing a screw cap wine on its side is not necessary but not harmful.

This guide covers cork, screw cap and short term storage, and what to do when a rack or shelf forces your choice. For storage temperature, see the wine storage temperature guide.

Why do corks need the wine to touch them?

Why should wine with a cork be stored on its side?

A cork that dries out can shrink and let air in. Wine Spectator's Dr. Vinny says that if a cork dries, it can shrink and let air into the wine, causing premature oxidation, and that a dry cork is also more likely to crumble when you open the bottle. Lying the bottle on its side keeps the wine in contact with the cork at the inside end.

Is wine still good if stored upright?

Yes, for a short time. Wine Spectator says it would take more than a few weeks or even months of standing upright for the cork in a recently released bottle to start showing signs of age. Dr. Vinny's advice for the very short term is that upright is probably fine, but a bottle takes the same space either way, so lying it down is the safer habit.

What about screw cap wine?

Does a screw cap wine need to be stored on its side?

No, but it does not hurt. Wine Spectator says screw caps do not need to stay moist, so screw cap bottles can be stored upright or on their side, and that you can use the same horizontal shelving for them if that is more convenient.

Is there a reason to lay a screw cap bottle down anyway?

Some winemakers think so. In Decanter, Peter McCombie MW says there is a strong argument for storing bottles with modern screw caps on their side, and notes that Jean-Claude Boisset's winemaker, who bottles under both cork and screw cap, prefers to lay screw cap bottles down for a good exchange between the wine and the air through the seal. Wine Spectator treats it as optional, so there is no settled rule.

What about sparkling wine?

Should Champagne and other sparkling wine be stored on its side?

If it has a cork, yes. Wine Spectator's advice is that sparkling wine with a cork should also be stored on its side, for the same reason as still wine, and that there is no disadvantage to doing so.

What if you do not have a rack?

How can you store bottles on their side without a rack?

Use a case box laid on its side. Wine Spectator suggests putting an empty wine case box on its side and stacking bottles inside it if the best you can do is a closet corner. For rack options, see how to choose a wine rack, and for larger formats that do not fit standard slots, see wine bottle sizes and rack fit. For a no cellar setup, see how to store wine without a wine cellar.

How do you keep track of which way each bottle is stored?

Record where every bottle is, whether it is on its side or upright. For layout ideas, see how to organize a wine cellar.

Frequently asked questions

Does wine need to be stored on its side?

Wine with a cork should be, according to Wine Spectator. Screw cap wine can go either way.

Is it bad to store wine standing up?

Not for a short time. For long term storage of corked wine, lying it down is the safer choice.

Can I store Champagne upright?

For the very short term, probably, but Wine Spectator advises lying cork sealed sparkling wine on its side.

Ready to log where each bottle lives? Get started with InVintory or compare plans.

Sources

Wine Spectator, Should I store bottles of wine upright or on their sides?.

Wine Spectator, Can you age wine bottled with a screwcap?.

Wine Spectator, Why aren't bottles stored on their sides at wine stores?.

Wine Spectator, Is it true Champagne shouldn't be stored on its side?.

Wine Spectator, Should certain types of wine be stored upright rather than on their sides?.

Decanter, Ask Decanter: Storing screwcapped bottles.