Wine Storage: Temperature Guide
If youve just bought yourself a new wine cooler or are in the process of, it helps to know what the ideal storage temperature for your wine is. If you take your wine collection seriously enough to invest in a wine fridge, then you want to make sure that youre using it effectively.
Our wine coolers have features like multi temperature zones so you can use it for your whole collection no matter what wines its made up of.
We have a fantastic range of wine fridges in the Refrigeration section alongside other fridges, freezers and American-Style fridge freezers. Check out our range for high-quality wine coolers from top, market-leading brands.
Ideal Wine Storage Conditions
If youre going to preserve the quality of your wine during storage, getting the temperature right is the most important but not the only aspect. It is one of several storage conditions that ought to be gotten right.
Along with the correct temperature, wine should be stored in a dark place with humidity below 70%.
If you cannot get rid of light from entering the storage facility, wrap the wine bottles with a piece of cloth or store them inside a box. High humidity will encourage the growth of mold in addition to deteriorating the wine labels.
Additionally, your wine cellar or cabinet should be free of strong potent smells. Such smells can taint the wine and the cork. It is thus encouraged to ensure that your storage option gets proper ventilation to get rid of musty odors.
Your wine storage facility should experience minimal or null vibrations at all times. Moving your stored wine can result in quality depreciation.
You should consider installing a thermohygrometer to monitor the humidity and a dehumidifier to control the humidity in the storage facility.
How To Store Wine In A Wine Refrigerator In 2020
Here at KingsBottle, we have different wine coolers for every collector. Different sizes and characteristics for a reasonable price.
If you are just starting to collect the wine, read further about proper wine storage in a single-zone refrigerator.
A single-zone refrigerator is something you would like to have if you dont have much space and need something compact for your small collection. Dont worry, after a while youll get a bigger, dual-zone fridge, once your collection gets bigger. The main characteristic is that single-zone refrigerators provide only one temperature for all wines to be stored that you need to set very carefully. And as you remember from the previous table, each wine has its own temperature. Set it for 54 °F, which is also 12°C, and you should be fine.
There are also dual-zone fridges that take more space than single-zone ones but the thing here is that you can set different temperatures in both zones. For example, in one, you can set 66 °F and 45 °F in the other. Isnt that great? These are the dual zone wine cooler temperatures that you can set for different types of wine. The best range is to set the temperature between 50 °F and 65 °F for red wine and set the other zone between 45 °F and 50 °F for white wine.
With a dual-zone wine refrigerator managing your wine cooler temperature for multiple wines becomes easier and more convenient.
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Best Temperature For White Wine
Below are categories of white wines and the best temperature to store them:
Full-bodied White Wines
The white versions of wines such as Chardonnay Montrachet, Sauternes, and Zinfandel, all do better when they are served at a temperature slightly higher than room temperature. This is a direct contrast to the myth that white wines should be served very cold.
- Store full-bodied white wines at 52oF to 55oF
Medium-Bodied White Wines
The alcohol content in sweet and dry medium-bodied white wines are slightly less than that in full-bodied white wines. This feature enables wine lovers to chill their wines more without compromising the flavor of the wine. Examples of such wines are Chablis and Riesling.
- Store medium-bodied white wines at 50oF
Light-Bodied White Wines
Light-bodied wines are refreshing, especially when served cold. The cold temperature intensifies the crispy nature and flavor of the drink. Light-bodied white wines such as Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc are best enjoyed chilled.
- Store at 46oF to 48oF
Sparkling and Dessert Wines
Sparkling wines such as champagne and dessert wines are best served icy cold. This way, the rich sweetness of the wine is brought to the fore.
- Store sparkling and the dessert wine at 40oF to 45oF
Settings For White Wines
Set a zone for white wines at storage temperature between 53.6 degrees Fahrenheit to 57.2 degrees Fahrenheit and the other zone at a lower serving temperature between 49 degrees Fahrenheit to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. There is a bit of overlap in the bottom of the ideal storage temperature range and the top of the serving temperature range. This makes white wines much more convenient to keep in a wine refrigerator.
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A Wine Fridge Shelving
A wine cooler maintains temperatures above 46°F As wine requires chilled temperatures, which are not too cold.
If you would like to learn more regarding optimal wine temperatures, by all means, check out our wine storage chart.
However, wine coolers also have a specially designed shelve that securely holds the wine bottle virtually to prevent the sediments from vibrating and preventing the corks from drying out.
Best Temperature For Full
Temperature range: 63-66
Bold, full-bodied red wines require a warmer, tighter temperature range to best balance their strong flavors and tannins. When stored at temperatures that are too cold, the boldness that makes these wines so attractive can be muted.
However, just because these wines benefit from some warmth doesnt mean that room temperature is the answer. When full-bodied wines like Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah are served too warm, their tannins can quickly become overwhelming, further masking flavors. Keeping your Sub-Zero wine cooler temperature settings just below room temperature can best balance the competing factors of these bold varieties.
The technicians at Don Bacon Appliance Service can make sure your Sub-Zero wine cooler temperature settings are always on point. Schedule your professional service today.
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Why Do You Need A Wine Cooler
Colored doors that minimize direct exposure to UV rays are constantly a clever option, but if your a glass of wine cooler will certainly lie anywhere that it will be subjected to sunlight, you should make a special indicate obtain one with UV security. Bottle Wine Cooler. An electronic thermostat makes it simple to check that the temperature of your cooler is where you desire it, as well as alter it as needed.
Recognizing the online reputation of the brand you choose prior to getting can assist ensure you opt for a white wine refrigerator thats long lasting as well as functions well. To help provide you a shortcut to acquiring a concept of what to expect from various brand names, we checked out the customer reviews of various wine coolers provided by each to see what the common customer experience with each brand name is.
Their wine fridges get points for being quiet, functional, as well as attractive. Avanti markets a large range of budget friendly free standing wine coolers with mainly favorable reviews. Consumers comment on the fantastic cost, how well the systems feature and a couple of mentioned that they last a very long time prior to needing replacement. Some designs get extra appreciation for having space to fit an open bottle standing upright.
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How To Store Sparkling Wine
Unlike reds and whites, cold temperatures are ideal for maximizing the taste and texture of sparkling wines. The best is widely considered to be 40, while an accepted range for wine cooler temperature settings is 38-42. This not only maximizes flavor but allows the carbonation to remain fresh and snappy, keeping foaming to a minimum.
While storing sparkling wines in the refrigerator is acceptable for the short-term, the arid conditions can dry out the cork over time. This allows air to enter and alter its flavor, eventually spoiling the wine. The more humid environment of a wine cooler can best preserve sparkling wines for long-term storage.
We hope this guide to wine cooler temperature settings enables you to enjoy all your wine to its fullest. Are temperature problems leaving you in need of a wine cooler repair service? Call Appliance Service Station for a fast and professional assessment.
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Do You Chill Pinot Noir
As weve said, everyones perception and preference differ when it comes serving temperatures, but if it is too cold the tannins and acidic features become more pronounced. Serving your Pinot Noir between 55-60° F will bring out the subtler strengths of Pinot Noir.
While Pinot Noir differs region to region, its flavor profile tend to feature anise and rose petal notes and undertones of berries, clove, and licorice. A very unique varietal, Pinot Noir will excel if served at the proper temperature, slightly chilled.
Red Wine Serving Temperatures
Red wines benefit from being served at room temperature. When the liquid is warmer, it exposes all those nutty and fruity flavors red wine is famous for. But this doesnt mean you should serve it hot like tea.
Red wine must be served at temperatures from 62°F to 68°F.
If you dont have a wine fridge able to keep your beverage at this temperature, either chill the wine for 30 minutes in your standard fridge if you stored it at room temperature, or warm it up for half an hour if it was kept in the refrigerator.
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Consider An Alternative To Carpet
Once you have bought yourself a wine cooler, it is imperative that you know how to take care of it.
The set-up of the cooler is one of the first things to make sure you know how to do. Then, as you figure out the details of this process, you should learn the basic and simple maintenance, as well as any cleaning that needs to be done.
Just like owning a car, or a house, if one takes care of the wine cooler the proper way, then it will pay off in the long run.
Firstly, learning how to set up the wine cooler is an important set of steps to know. Before even getting into the installation process, there are many steps that you, as the owner of a wine cooler need to consider.
Selecting the perfect location for a new wine cooler is one of the most important points to consider while going through the installation process.
Unless it is one of the portable versions, chances are you wont be moving it around a lot. Select the position carefully so you do not have to worry about changing it later on.
Moving along with the most optimum location for the wine cooler, you should avoid placing it on any type of carpeting. While some think that it is a great place to set a wine cooler, so it will not ruin any hardwood in the house or office, it is actually better to keep the cooler on an easy-to-clean surface.
Because carpet is a common floor surface, many have no other option but to store their wine cooler on the carpet.
Ideal Serving Temperature For Wine
Does wine serving temperature matter? Imagine it this way: does lemonade taste better at room temperature or ice-cold? Here are some best practices on wine serving temperature based on style of wine.
Serve red wines slightly cooler than room temperature, between 6268 degrees F .
Generally speaking, serve white wines slightly warmer than fridge temperature, between 49-55 degrees F .
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- Sparkling and Light-Bodied White Wines:Ice Cold between 3845°F / 3-7°C
- Rosé and Full-Bodied White Wines:Fridge Cold between 4455°F / 7-12°C
- Light and Medium-Bodied Red Wines:Cool between 5560°F / 12-15°C
- Bold Red Wines:Slightly Cool between 6068°F / 15-20°C
- Dessert Wines: Depends on style.
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There Is A Common Perception That White Wines Should Be Served Chilled And Red Wines At Room Temperature However Abiding By This Simple Rule Will Probably Mean Youll Never Really Enjoy Your Wine At Its Best Nothing Spoils A Wine More Than Serving It At The Wrong Temperature
On one hand, a Chardonnay served at 5° instead of 11°-12° will be stripped of all its enchanting aromas and flavours, while serving red wines at room temperature in Australia is a common mistake.
When the French recommend serving your full-bodied reds chambrés , theyre actually referring to room temperature as it was in European dining rooms in the medieval times before central heating existed, so 15°-18°.
Served at 25°, red wine will lose all its finesse and freshness to an overpowering sensation of alcohol. This is why it makes perfect sense to give your reds some time to cool down in the fridge before service . Of course, if you store your wine in a wine cabinet at cellaring temperature , this is no longer necessary: just take it out 15 minutes prior to serving. If in doubt though, its always better to serve your reds a little cooler, as you can always warm up the glass in the palm of your hand.
For whites, 2-3 hours in the fridge is perfect, but no more, as white wines should never be served under 5° if theyre coming straight out of a 2° fridge, the only thing your taste buds will ever register is acidity.
So rather than leaving a bottle in the fridge as you leave for work in the morning , fill a bucket with ice and cold water when you get home, drop in your white wine and it will be at perfect serving temperature in no time: that first sip will be all the more rewarding served at the right temperature.
Sparkling Wine Serving Temperatures
Sparkling wines should also be served chilled, as the bubbles will be more refreshing and the flavors more pronounced at a lower temperature. If you’re serving sparkling wine from the fridge, take it out about 20-30 minutes before you plan to serve it, so it has time to warm up slightly. The serving temperature of most sparkling wines coincides with the serving temperature of champagne.
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Red Wine Serving Temperature
This notion that red wine is supposed to be served at room temperature has been floating around for ages. And because this idea has been around for so long, the ideal room temperature has changed over the years.
While today our room temperature usually hovers around 72-73 degrees Fahrenheit, in the past it would refer to temperatures in the mid-50s to low 60s. And because of this change over the years, youre probably serving your red wine a bit too warm.
Most red wine is meant to be served between 55-65 degrees Fahrenheit to help maintain the intended flavor of the wine. If youre wine is too warm the alcohol taste can push through making it sting a bit when drank, while too cold and the tannins in the wine can shine through too much.
The temperature in which red wine should be served can be subjective depending on your personal tastes, but in general 55-65 degrees is the sweet spot for red wine. This will allow the wine flavors to balance nicely without throwing off the taste.
We suggest serving something like our Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon at a temperature between 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit to get the full flavor of the wine.
Ideal Temperature By Unit
For wine storage, coolers are available in single-zone models and dual-zone models. Single zones are often more economical, beginner friendly and ideal for long term storage of all wines. However, if you are looking to have both long-term and short-term storage as well as service temperatures in the same device, a dual-zone cooler is probably best. With dual-zone coolers, you can independently adjust the temperatures of two separate storage areas.
Another consideration is compressor coolers versus thermoelectric coolers. These two different types of refrigerators offer their own unique advantages. While they operate like a traditional refrigerator, compressor coolers can get cooler in warmer climates and are the more popular of the two. Thermoelectric coolers use electricity and heating plates to operate much more quietly, but you wont find them in stock as readily.
Are you exclusively storing wine, or do you have spirits, beer, and mixers to keep cold as well? If the latter is the case, consider looking into beverage-center units. These typically have space for beer/soda cans, standard bottles, and sparkling wine bottles. Not only do these units free up space in your standard refrigerator, but they offer a convenient space for all your entertaining needs and supplies.
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Lets Start Here What Is A Wine Refrigerator And Why You Need One
A wine refrigerator, wine cooler, wine chiller, or wine vault is an appliance that maintains consistent temperature and humidity levels, preserving your wine collection. But cant I just put the bottles in the fridge? You will make your wine cry. A refrigerator cools at much colder temperatures than a wine refrigerator and works to get rid of humidity, for perfect wine storage you actually NEED humidity and for it to be maintained at constant levels. The vibrations from a regular refrigerator can also disturb your wines causing them to have unwanted chemical reactions and age more quickly. Not to mention the constant activity of your kids opening and closing the door causing fluctuations in the temperature.
A wine refrigerator and regular refrigerator both use compressors to cool, but the our exclusive Allavino Truvino technology absorbs the vibrations from the compressor to make sure not to disturb your precious wine collection. One last thing to stop you from using your fridge for wine storage, remember those left overs from last week sitting in the back of the fridge? Yeah, they are still there… imagine sipping on your favorite wine and getting hints of enchilada at the end. You get the point.
