Having spent so much time and energy choosing the perfect wine, you will of course want to be sure that you can preserve it with care. Wine can be fickle, and it will want to be comfortable. You will need to store your wine horizontally, so the wine itself is in contact with the cork. This will ensure that the cork remains moist and elastic. When corks dry out, they shrink, which breaks the tight seal of the bottle and may allow oxygen in. When oxygen starts mingling with wine, it will oxidize the liquid, converting it into an expensive vinegar. This is why all wine racks store the bottles horizontally.
Beyond just getting horizontal, a wine likes to be in a cool dark place, free from smell or vibration. Just like most things, wines don't enjoy the heat too much. On the other hand, they don't want to be frozen either, so don't store them in the refrigerator for long periods. As for their photosensitivity, keeping wine in the dark prevents it from chemical reactions initiated by light. This is also why wine comes in dark colored bottles---never clear glass. As for avoiding smell, whatever is reeking up the place can penetrate the cork and stink up the wine. And as for the vibrations, who knows? You would think that Californian stuff would be at home amidst tremblers, but evidently not. The verdict: your basement.
