Wine isn’t like butterfly wings.  Most young wines are pretty sturdy and can hold up to small changes in storage conditions, so long as the changes aren’t radical or prolonged.  But those who choose to collect wine need to take additional precautions to make sure their wines stay healthy.

Here are some simple, proven rules that you can use when you purchase wine to keep more than a few months:

1.    Heat kills wine.  Make sure your wine is stored in an area that doesn’t get much above 70 degrees.  And during the dog days of late summer, it’s especially important to protect your wine from overheating.

2.    Keep the temperature steady.  Temperature fluctuations of more than 10 degrees can be more harmful than keeping the wine at a higher than recommended, but steady, temperature.  Garages are great places to store lawnmowers, but not wine.

3.    Older wines (more than 10 years) are more fragile than their younger brethren and are more susceptible to spoilage if storage conditions aren’t right. Fine wines that are built to age are usually expensive, so you are putting your assets at risk if you don’t store them properly.

4.    While higher than normal humidity can blemish your labels, it’s rare that it actually hurts the wine.  Beware of mold, though, as it is a live organism that can spread quickly beyond your wine labels.

5.    Avoid strong lights and vibration. The kitchen is out unless you have a wine fridge.