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Humidity
Humidity is similarly important for natural corks. If conditions are too dry, corks can dry out and again allow oxygen to seep into the bottle. A 60–70% humidity range is ideal, and all bottles with natural corks should be stored on their sides to keep corks wet.
Collection Size
How many bottles one plans to store is perhaps the most important question to ask. Collectors with just a few bottles who buy infrequently need not invest in a wine cellar. Conversely, collectors with larger collections or quickly growing collections will soon outgrow their wine fridge.
Small Collections
Collectors with fewer than 250 bottles have several options.
Wines which are not intended for ageing can be placed in a rack in the coolest part of the house (preferably a basement or cellar).
Conversely, collectors with fine wines who wish to see their bottles improve over years should invest in a good quality wine fridge or offsite locker at a storage facility or club. Both are generally available in a range of sizes, making it easy to upsize as collections grow.
Large Collections
Collectors with over 250 bottles will most certainly have bottles intended for long-term ageing, and should therefore opt for either a wine fridge, a wine wall, offsite storage, or a full home cellar.
Wine fridges are convenient, fairly economical, and modular, so more can be purchased as required. However, a frequent complaint is that many designs are tailored for Bordeaux bottles and ill-suited to wider Burgundy or Champagne bottles. Hence the listed capacity is rarely achieved. Another downside to fridges is they often will not offer humidity control.
A wine wall is a nice intermediary between the fridge and cellar. It can be enclosed to preserve temperature and humidity, and also makes a beautiful display piece in the home.
Offsite storage can refer either to an accessible locker, perhaps at a wine club, or case storage at a warehouse facility. The latter is particularly useful if one keeps wines in cases for long-term storage or for investment purposes and plans to resell.
The home cellar is the most expensive, but also the most exciting option as it allows for the most customization not only in size but also in design.
Access & Aesthetics
Many collectors focus on size and overlook another important consideration: how they plan to interact with their wines.
Access
Those who wish to have their wines on-hand for regular dinners should consider options in their home, like a cellar, fridge or rack. Those who have purchased their wine for investment or long-term storage may be better served by offsite storage. Especially for those who plan to resell their wines, keeping wines out of sight may be wise to avoid thirsty guests prompting you to pull the cork on some prized La Tâche!
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