Question on Upright Storage for Non Corked Wine

Is there any reason to not store a wine that doesn't have a natural cork upright?

Sorry that question is a bit awkward.

If I have wines with synthetic corks and screw caps. Can I store them upright?

Tom T.

I can't think of any reason why not, but you should wait for some of the better educated members to weigh in.

Can you store them upright? Yes. In fact most bottles bottles with corks can be stored upright too. It is only when long term storage is concerned that is becomes important to keep the cork moist. Even then I seriously wonder how important it is if the humidity in the cellar is not too low.

Tom,

I see no reason screwcaps cannot be stored upright and do so regularly.

Bill

I asked the same question a couple of years ago as I was thinking about screwcaps. As others have noted, if it's not a real cork, then you can store them upright.

The only point that was made to me at the time was that a cellar full of upright bottles just invites accidental breakage. Even if they don't need to be horizontal, wine bottles, as far as I am concerned, are safer on their side in some kid of shelf unit.

[David M. Bueker]

Upright is fine for alternative closures. I have cases and cases of screw capped wines & just leave 'em right side up. In fact I actually got a case box the other week full of screw capped wines that had the arrow for "this side up" pointing with the caps upright.

I asked the same question a couple of years ago as I was thinking about screwcaps. As others have noted, if it's not a real cork, then you can store them upright.

The only point that was made to me at the time was that a cellar full of upright bottles just invites accidental breakage. Even if they don't need to be horizontal, wine bottles, as far as I am concerned, are safer on their side in some kid of shelf unit.

Yes, breakage could be an issue. I was standing up some wines for the holidays and realized that some were not using real cork so I figured "what the heck" I might as well stand up more that have artificial corks or screw caps. I would never stand up hundreds of bottles; I'm just talking about 10-20 bottles.

Tom T.

The reason wine bottles with natural corks should be stored on their sides is to keep the bottom of the cork wet so it provides a proper seal. Cork shrinks as it dries and thus a dried cork might not seal properly.

I would think it's actually better to store bottles with artificial closures upright since that way the wine is not in contact with the bottom of the closure and hence can't pick up off-odors or flavors from it.

-Paul W.

The reason wine bottles with natural corks should be stored on their sides is to keep the bottom of the cork wet so it provides a proper seal. Cork shrinks as it dries and thus a dried cork might not seal properly.

I would think it's actually better to store bottles with artificial closures upright since that way the wine is not in contact with the bottom of the closure and hence can't pick up off-odors or flavors from it.

And, in the case of plastic "corks," might possibly improve the closure. The big problem with them, loss of plasticity, might be retarded if they aren't in contact with the wine.

Mark Lipton

As Bruce notes, the wine would be fine, but the bottle would be at risk when stored upright. Even if you never broke a bottle, I can't think of a vertical storage plan that gives the security and ease of access of horizontal storage, especially the latter feature.

I have a couple of the sturdier cardboard cases on my cellar floor, I tend to store screwcaps (and bubblies) upright in those cases. Use taller ones so necks aren't exposed risking breakage

As Bruce notes, the wine would be fine, but the bottle would be at risk when stored upright. Even if you never broke a bottle, I can't think of a vertical storage plan that gives the security and ease of access of horizontal storage, especially the latter feature.

I'm not so sure, Frank (and Bruce). It depends, I suppose, on the quantities you buy in, but as an alternative to diamond racks, you'd simply have standard horizontal shelving with vertical partitions. If knocking bottles off is a big concern, a 1" lip on the front should alleviate most concern. That's what we use in labs for preventing accidental spillage from shelving units of chemicals. Such a setup would be at least as convenient as horizontal storage, I think. In fact, by making the vertical partitions movable, one could accommodate almost any collection of wine.

Mark Lipton