re: Do you really need to store wine on its side?

Depends on which article you read when googling as they are probably evenly split. I have some on its side because that is the way the rack holds them. I have some in cardboard cases upright because the racks are full.

While I have some good wines none that I have will ever sit long enough for a cork to dry out and more wines are using synthetic corks or screw tops than ever as well. Wines being made now, for the most part of which we drink are made to drink in a relatively short period of time.