At least 20% of the enjoyment contained in a wine can be lost through poor handling. A few simple steps will prevent this.

1. Try not to open bottles the moment they arrive. Give them a few days' rest... you'll notice the difference.

2. Keep in the dark (definitely out of direct sunlight anyway), away from vibration and at a constant temperature. It isn't important what this temperature is as long as it doesn't exceed about 65°F (18°C) or drop to freezing, or fluctuate wildly.

3. If keeping wine more than six months, keep bottles lying down in case the corks dry out and let the air in. For real 'laying down', it is essential to lie the bottles horizontal. But the bottles from The Wine Club for drinking over the next few weeks or months are fine to leave standing up.