Can I store wine in a wine fridge that’s turned off or doesn’t work?

Hello there! I'm Dr. Vinifera, but you can call me Vinny. Ask me your toughest wine questions, from the fine points of etiquette to the science of winemaking. And don't worry, I'm no wine snob—you can also ask me those "dumb questions" you're too embarrased to ask your wine geek friends! I hope you find my answers educational, empowering and even amusing. And don't forget to check out my most asked questions and my full archives for all my Q&A classics.

Dear Dr. Vinny,

I’m wondering about wine storage after reading your recent answer about aging bottles at room temperature. I inherited a wine fridge, but its motor stopped working. Do you think storing wine in it will still yield favorable results, or could that end up damaging the bottles since the fridge is not actually turned on? Part of me doesn't see why that would harm the wines as it's still relatively cool inside the fridge.

—Matthew, Dallas, Pa.

Dear Matthew,

An insulated wine fridge isn't a terrible place to store wine, even if it isn't running. If nothing else, it will protect your wine from temperature swings, light and vibration.

My only concern is the air inside the fridge, and the possibility for bad smells to develop since there's no circulation. If there's some condensation on the bottles, the labels might start to get moldy and the cooler could start to smell a bit musty. But if the air doesn't smell and it's nice and dry in the fridge, I think your wine should be fine, at least in the short term.

I never feel comfortable telling people how much they should or shouldn't spend on wine storage. But you might want to see how much it would cost to repair the wine cooler. If a repair would cost only a tiny fraction of the amount of money you’ve already spent on your wine, perhaps it wouldn't be a bad investment. After all, we know that cool, constant temperatures will give your wine collection the best chance to age gracefully.

—Dr. Vinny