If you receive a bottle of wine this holiday season but don’t plan to open it right away, be sure to store it properly. For many wines, you don’t need the controlled environment of a wine cellar. You don’t even need a wine rack. The key to proper storage is this: Keep it away from light, heat and temperature fluctuations. A dark, cool area, such as a basement or even a closet, works well. Don’t keep wine in the kitchen because that room gets too hot. And don’t put it in the refrigerator, which causes tartrates (crystalline deposits) to form in the bottle.

Unless you plan to keep the wine for more than a year, it can be stored upright. For longer storage—up to five years—lay it on its side to prevent the cork from drying out.

Keep in mind that not all wines get better with age. Many, such as Pinot Grigio, are best enjoyed within two years of the vintage date. Other more full-bodied whites, such as Chardonnay and Saugivnon Blanc, can be aged for an additional year or two. Generally, reds age longer than whites because they have a higher alcohol content and higher levels of tannin (the compounds that make red wines taste slightly bitter).