The Auswine Forum

We pretty much all know about the "correct" way to store conventional wines that are cork sealed, but the question I am pondering is Do you have to lay down your screw cap bottles in the same fashion as cork? Would it even make a difference? This may be a simple question, but Im new to all this so if its a dumb question I'm sorry.

one of those questions where there are plenty of different points of view!

To my understanding, wine is stored on its side so the cork is kept moist and isn't at risk of growing and contracting in the bottle and therefore risking oxidation.

Because screwcaps don't need to be kept moist, no need to have them on their side - I've even heard that some faulty screwcaps have led to wines dripping while on their side! But nothing i've experienced personally.

Some people also believe that oxygen is important to the ageing process and by having bottles on their side, exposes a greater surface area of the wine to air, therfore helping it age a little more gracefully. Personally, the jury is out!

Hope this helps!

cheers
max

I too am interested in peoples opinions on this one.

It is something i have been pondering over for some time now. Im curious as to whether there are other benefits from laying the bottle down on its side other than those relating to the cork? For example having the sediment laying along the length of the bottle as opposed to it sitting in the bottom of the bottle, would this affect the wine over long periods of time due to the wines actual depth?

cheers

The one big advantage of lying them on their side is to catch them if the ever leak. I lie them on their side for this reason. Yes, they won't leak if you stand them up, but how do you know if the closure has failed?

mabey Red Velvet and Max have a point... lying them down increases surface area for sediment and/or Oxygen. with this "theory" it would be irrelavant what type of stopper is used.