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Didn't want to hijack the other post. Looking at the pics. on that post it appears not all of them have the bottles on a slight slant. I'm a novice to wine, but I always thought they should not lay flat. Just asking!
Jim
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The wine that most of us buy, something like 99% or more of all wine actually, is drunk and is intended to be drunk within the first year after bottling. Wine that should be put away to age shouldn't be stored on those wine racks. They would be put in a wine cellar or temp/humidity controlled wine cooler. So don't worry whether the bottles are flat or slanted, doesn't matter.
Buy 'em and drink 'em.
John
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Bottles with real cork stoppers should be stored at an angle to keep the cork wet. The swelling of the cork prevents air from entering and spoiling the wine. Today many wineries are using a plastic cork or the screw tops and do not require this angled storage.
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The reason wine bottles are stored flat is to keep oxygen from entering the wine. Oxygen (oxidation) will affect the taste of the wine and even turn it into vinegar if left to sIt in that state. Turning the bottle on its side keeps the cork wet which expanded and keep the bottle air tight. Keeping the bottle upright may dry out the cork which will shrink and introduce oxygen into the wine. However storing wine bottles upright that are sealed with screw tops or synthetic cork is perfectly fine.
Johnet
