Answer by: Roger C. Bohmrich, MW
I guess that depends on several factors: is the bottle something "serious," what are your storage conditions, and how long do you intend to keep the bottle before serving it?
If the bottle in question is, for example, a top white Burgundy which truly should be kept in cellar conditons (cool, stable, dark), then by all means it would be best to return it to such storage if it is available, particularly if it might be kept for years.
This situation often arises in my own home, as I may pull out from my cellar two bottles each of several wines for a dinner party, but not open and serve all bottles. I always return the unopened wines, whether red or white, to the cellar unless I plan on consuming them immediately.
In any case, it probably is not the best approach to keep a bottle in the very cold temperatures of a refrigerator for weeks or months - especially if it is an expensive wine.
About the Expert:Roger has enjoyed a lengthy career in the wine trade, and he last served as a senior executive with a major national importer. In 2006, he launched Millesima USA, a retail entity affiliated with Europe's leading fine wine mail order company. Roger became one of America's first Masters of Wine in 1993, and he has been very active as an educator and speaker at wine festivals and conferences. He hosts a community television program entitled "Wine's Simple Pleasures," and is currently working on a book of original recipes and wine pairing solutions. Visit Roger C. Bohmrich, MW's website: MILLESIMA USA LLC
| 
Wine Question 
