Answer by: Roger C. Bohmrich, MW
There is no exact answer to your question. It is likely that most young wines can be kept for a number of months at least even in warmer conditions. You should be sure to lay down the bottles because the higher temperature will accelerate drying of the cork at the top of the neck.
There is no need to worry about keeping wine for "a couple of weeks" in your house - unless you live without air conditioning in the Tropics. While I am a believer in storing wine for long periods (years, not weeks) in the best possible conditions - cool, dark, humid - the simple reality is that wine undergoes considerable temperature variation during shipment from the winery to the importer or distributor and/or on the delivery truck to the store or restaurant. If you live in a place with a long, hot summer, most of the wines available locally probably have undergone some period of heat extreme.
My advice is to lay the bottles down in the coolest, darkest space you can find at the bottom of a closet away from any heat source and, certainly, the kitchen.
About the Expert:Roger has enjoyed a lengthy career in the wine trade, and he last served as a senior executive with a major national importer. In 2006, he launched Millesima USA, a retail entity affiliated with Europe's leading fine wine mail order company. Roger became one of America's first Masters of Wine in 1993, and he has been very active as an educator and speaker at wine festivals and conferences. He hosts a community television program entitled "Wine's Simple Pleasures," and is currently working on a book of original recipes and wine pairing solutions. Visit Roger C. Bohmrich, MW's website: MILLESIMA USA LLC
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