Dark, cool and calm. That's the way to store fine wines. Alas, few of us are blessed with basements or better yet, rooms dedicated to wine storage.

Which is the likeliest reason that Dori Luzzo, wine steward at Yoke's Fresh Markets in Pasco, sees some customers almost every day.

"Most people simply don't have a good place for long-term wine storage," she said.

Far better to buy fewer bottles more frequently and not age your wines than to have a really nice wine spoil from bad handling, she said.

Convenience also drives frequent shopping.

A lot of people make a daily trip to the grocery store anyway, and while they're getting dinner they pick up a bottle to go with it, she said.

"I find people only stock up when there's a really good sale. That's when we have a conversation on where they're going to keep it," Luzzo said.

All too often the answer is, "I have this cute wine rack in the kitchen."

"That's fine if you want to display empty bottles there. But to keep your wine, long-term, you really need to find a different location," Luzzo said.

And that can be difficult.

Unlike liquor and beer, wine evolves in the bottle. Where it's stored directly affects whether it's something you're proud to pour into a glass for friends -- or regret it later when you find it's more vinegar than wine.

Ultraviolet light, fluctuating temperatures and vibration contribute to the breakdown of a wine.

"If your home has a basement, that's really ideal," she said.

Failing that, choose a place that's dark and has a fairly even temperature like an interior closet or an unused room.

Wine coolers are another option. These temperature-controlled wine storage cabinets were once a high-ticket item. Sure, you can still spend thousands to store your wine at an even temperature. But you don't have to.

Compact wine coolers with a capacity of 15 to 24 bottles, sporting familiar brand names like General Electric and KitchenAid, start around $100. Most mid-range wine coolers with more capacity and more features fall in the $150 to $300 range. Expect to pay more for extra features like locks, pull-out shelving and dual-temperature zones for white and red wines.

You'll find wine coolers at large hardware stores like The Home Depot and Lowe's, kitchen design stores like Kitchen Restylers in Kennewick and stores like Best Buy. They won't always stock the coolers but can special-order them.

But even a wine cooler may not be the best solution.

"I'm hearing they might be too cold for long-term storage, for more than a year. Plus there's vibration from the compressor turning on and off," Luzzo said.

But if you're planning to consume your wine within a year, it's a great solution, she said.

Luzzo has one down in her basement.