How long can you store wine?

How Long Can You Store Wine? A Guide to Ageing Gracefully

If you’ve ever wondered how long you can store wine for, you’re not alone. Whether you’ve just uncorked a passion for collecting, you’re a seasoned sommelier-in-training, or you simply like to store a bottle or two for a special occasion - knowing the wine storage duration for your favourite bottles of wine is key to unlocking its full potential. 

Ageing wine isn’t just about patience, it’s about precision. And that’s where proper storage comes into play.

At CoolerSomm, we believe that every wine deserves the chance to age gracefully (just like us). With the right conditions and a little know-how, your wine fridge could be the answer to your most rewarding glass yet.

Why Age Wine at All?

You may have waited all week long for a crisp glass of white, so why delay the process even longer with a stint in the wine fridge? For those arguing its necessity, it’s actually a pretty important step if you appreciate a glass of the good stuff - depending on which type of wine you plan on storing, that is. 

When stored correctly, certain wines can mature beautifully over time, developing richer, more complex flavours. Tannins soften, acidity balances, and new 'tertiary' tasting notes emerge. Think earthy, nutty, and savoury tones that only time can bring… It's like watching a great film: it gets better the more layers you uncover.

However, not all wines are built to age. Some are crafted for immediate enjoyment, while others benefit from a few years (or decades) in the bottle.

How Long Should You Store Wine?

How long is a piece of string? Storage time depends on various factors, the most prominent being the type of wine you’re storing, how it was made and the ageing potential of the grape varietal itself and the vintage the grapes grew in. When all the stars align a bottle of regular £20 Cru Bourgeois Bordeaux can improve for up to 30 years, when they don't, you may wish you'd spent that £20 on something else!

Aging potential in wine depends heavily on the grape variety, winemaking style, vintage quality, and storage conditions. In exceptional vintages, wines from the world's top regions can age for decades, though whites generally have shorter lifespans than reds—with notable exceptions like Riesling and white Burgundy.

Here’s a general guide to how long top wines from the ten most important wine regions can age in a great vintage, divided by red and white:

---

France

1. Bordeaux

   • Red (Cabernet/Merlot blends): 20–50+ years (esp. Left Bank like Pauillac, Margaux, and Right Bank like Pomerol, St-Émilion)

   • White (Pessac-Léognan): 10–25 years (Sauvignon Blanc–Sémillon blends)

   • Sweet (Sauternes): 20–50+ years

2. Burgundy

   • Red (Pinot Noir): 10–30+ years (Grand Cru Côte de Nuits)

   • White (Chardonnay): 10–25+ years (esp. Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Corton-Charlemagne)

3. Rhône Valley

   • Red (Syrah, Grenache blends):

     • Northern Rhône (Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie): 20–40+ years

     • Southern Rhône (Châteauneuf-du-Pape): 10–30 years

   • White (Viognier, Marsanne/Roussanne): 5–15 years (e.g., Condrieu, Hermitage Blanc)

---

Italy

4. Piedmont (Barolo, Barbaresco)

   • Red (Nebbiolo): 20–50+ years

   • White (Arneis, Gavi): 3–7 years, generally not long-lived

5. Tuscany (Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino)

   • Red (Sangiovese): 15–40+ years (Brunello especially)

   • White (Vernaccia di San Gimignano): 3–10 years

---

Spain

6. Rioja / Ribera del Duero

   • Red (Tempranillo): 20–40+ years for Gran Reserva in top vintages

   • White Rioja (Viura blends): 10–20 years (traditional oxidative style)

---

Germany

7. Mosel

   • White (Riesling): 20–50+ years (esp. Prädikat wines – Auslese, Spätlese, TBA)

   • Red (Spätburgunder/Pinot Noir): 5–15 years (less age-worthy than French PN, but improving)

---

USA

8. Napa Valley

   • Red (Cabernet Sauvignon): 15–30+ years (top estates like Screaming Eagle, Heitz Martha's)

   • White (Chardonnay): 5–10 years (age-worthy examples like Stony Hill, but most are shorter-lived)

---

Australia

9. Barossa Valley / Hunter Valley

   • Red (Shiraz): 15–40+ years (e.g., Penfolds Grange, Henschke Hill of Grace)

   • White (Semillon from Hunter Valley): 20–30+ years (dry, unoaked style with remarkable longevity)

---

Portugal

10. Douro

• Red (Touriga Nacional blends): 10–30 years (esp. Douro DOC and Vintage Port)

• White (Viosinho, Rabigato blends): 5–10 years

• Vintage Port (fortified red): 30–70+ years

---

Summary Chart (in a great vintage):

Tips for Long-Term Wine Storage

• Temperature matters: Aim for 10–14°C (50–57°F) for both reds and whites. You don't need a dual zone wine fridge to mature wine.
  
  

• Keep it dark: UV light can prematurely age wine. To totally block out all UV rays choose a solid door wine maturing cabinet.
  
  

• Lay bottles flat: This keeps the cork moist and airtight. Display shelves are nice but bottle on an angle wont mature as well.
  
  

• Stability is key: Avoid vibrations that can disturb the ageing process.

• Track your collection: If you buy in cases, bring a wine out at the start of the drinking window and see if it improves over time.
  

These timelines vary depending on the producer, vintage, and storage conditions. Which brings us to the real secret to ageing wine...

The Role of Proper Storage

Wine is delicate. It doesn’t like heat, light, vibration, or fluctuating humidity. A standard kitchen cupboard simply won’t cut it for long-term ageing.

Fear not; that’s where CoolerSomm wine fridges come in.

Our range of expertly designed wine coolers, cabinets and storage units create the perfect environment for ageing: consistent temperature, controlled humidity, and UV-protected glass. Whether you’re storing a single vintage Champagne or curating a cellar of Bordeaux, we have a solution for every collector.

Browse our freestanding, built-in, and integrated wine fridges and pick the perfect bottle(s) to fill them with.

Build Your Collection with Confidence

The joy of wine collecting isn’t just in the drinking, it’s in the anticipation. Knowing you have a bottle quietly maturing to perfection is one of the most rewarding parts of the experience. Like a beautiful, budding flower you’ve nurtured since it was a seed. Whether you're laying down a few special bottles or starting a lifelong passion project, CoolerSomm is here to help you age your wine with care - and a whole lotta flair!

Ready to take your collection to the next level? Explore our full range of wine fridges designed for long-term storage.