Q:

I’ve heard that storing sparkling wine or Champagne in the refrigerator for more than a short time will ruin it because the vibration of the refrigerator motor will somehow make the wine go flat. Is this true?

Richard Ayres, Washington, DC, None

A:

Vibration is the enemy when it agitates the wine or produces too much heat, but most commercial refrigerators don’t generate enough to worry about. More of an issue in storing wine in the refrigerator is how dry the air gets. This can dry out a cork, which would release all the bubbles in a sparkling wine. That’s why it’s best to keep a bottle of sparkling wine in a refrigerator for no more than six weeks.