Does upright storage ruin cork?
Q: I am new to Washington, having moved from Florida a year ago.
After several bad experiences with wines purchased at supermarkets having dry corks I looked for a specialized wine store and was surprised to find that the one I visited also stores its wine bottles upright. In Miami, any wine store you go to stores its wine correctly. I have decided, for now, to only purchase Stelvin-capped wine.
A: Coming from Florida, where the climate is warmer than the Pacific Northwest, I imagine storage conditions are a bit different. Florida shops may have much more substantial air conditioning, which could conceivably dry out corks more quickly. Although some wine shops in the Northwest do have horizontal storage, many do not.
That should not be a problem unless the wine has been sitting on the shelf for quite a long time, is exposed to strong lights or direct sun, or was improperly stored at the warehouse. You are well within your rights to return such bottles, provided they have been consumed within a few days of purchase.
Otherwise, storage conditions in your own home might play a part. I keep many bottles upright at home, sometimes for fairly long periods, and have never once experienced the problem of dry corks you describe. For rare, older wines that are being cellared over many years, sideways storage (or upside down) is imperative. I have not found standing up a bottle is going to cause any problems in the short term.
Paul Gregutt answers questions weekly in the Wine section.
He can be reached by e-mail
at wine@seattletimes.com.