A Guide to Wine Storage Temperatures

There’s a secret to excellent wine storage, and it all comes down to a few simple factors. One of the most essential elements is temperature. 

Believe it or not, temperature can make or break a wine. If your wine is oxidizing too fast or the flavor keeps breaking down, incorrect temperature could be the culprit. 

In this blog, we’re providing you with a guide to the best storage temperature for your wine.

What is Wine Storage Temperature?

Finding the perfect wine storage temperature is understanding the range from hot to cold at which your wine is stored. The best temperature range for storing red and white wine is 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Ideally, your wine should be stored in a temperature-controlled environment to ensure good quality long-term. This means your room-temperature living room or kitchen may not be the best place if your goal is long-term storage. Instead, you need a controlled environment with consistent temperature. 

Here are the best temperatures for each category of wine.

Red Wine Storage Temperature

If you plan to store wine at around room temperature, full-bodied red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Zinfandel can be stored at around 63 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Darker, full-bodied red wines can take even more heat at 66 degrees Fahrenheit. In general, if the red wine you’re storing contains a high amount of tannins, it can handle consistent room temperature.

For lighter-bodied reds like Pinot Noir, stick to the overall storage temperature of 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit. At the very most, don’t exceed 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

For blush wines like Rosé, 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit is your best bet, ideally on the chillier side. 

Overall, the best red wine temperature for storage is lower than room temperature, with full-bodied varietals stored on the warmer side of that at most. For lighter-bodied red wines, closer to that 50-55 Fahrenheit mark is best.

White Wine Storage Temperature

White wines are lighter than red and have lower tannins. Therefore, white wines thrive in cooler temperatures. The best temperature for white wine storage overall is around 45-55 degrees Fahrenheit. This helps preserve those airy fruit and floral aromas. 

The upper end of that spectrum will be perfect for robust white wines like Chardonnay. For lighter, dry whites, like Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc, just below 50 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. 

Sweeter whites like your favorite Moscato should be kept at even lower temperatures, between 42-45 degrees Fahrenheit, to preserve their more delicate flavor profile. 

Sparkling Wine Storage Temperature

Your favorite bubbly falls into the coldest category of wine storage temperatures. Preserve those pearly sparklers by storing them at a chilly 42-44 degrees Fahrenheit. The upper end of that spectrum will be fine for classic sparkling wines like Champagne. 

Best Places to Store Your Wine Collection

In addition to the ideal storage temperature, there are five things to consider when keeping your precious bottle of wine in peak condition long-term.

• Humidity: Ideal humidity for wine storage falls between 60-80%. Anything below that, and you risk drying out the cork. Anything above and the wine can grow mold.

• Vibration: Especially for red wine, the natural chemical reactions that smooth flavors and tannins over time benefit long-term aging. Unfortunately, unwanted vibrations can cause your wine to break down and undergo premature aging, which could lead them to taste like vinegar.

• Lighting: Like vibrations, UV light will cause your wine to break down quickly and turn to vinegar. This is why dark, cool, sunless spaces are ideal for wine storage. 

• Strong Smells: Be careful when cleaning your wine storage area, as wine corks quickly absorb outside compounds like cleaning agents. Along with mold, this could tarnish your wine, so keep outside smells to a minimum. 

• Racking: When placing a bottle for wine storage, wine is typically best kept on its side. This allows the wine to keep the cork moist and holds sediment that may form closer to the neck over time, making it easier to remove when you’re ready to sip. 

Wine Cellar 

The perfect location for wine storage is the classic cellar. A wine cellar is achievable if your home has a basement with ideally no windows. This environment, along with a proper thermostat and humidity control, is a best-case scenario. Wine thrives in dark places, kept at controlled temperatures and humidity. As stated earlier, 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal on average, but your temperature needs may change depending on the types of wine you’re storing.

Wine Fridge

If you don’t have enough space for a wine cellar, a wine refrigerator is another beautiful, slightly less expensive option. A wine refrigerator can hold up to thirty wine bottles or more. The best part is that a wine fridge temperature is adjustable. It’s compact and easy to access and control the temperature. If you have space in your kitchen or another windowless area, why not look into a wine fridge?

Wine Cooler

A wine cooler is similar to a wine fridge, although usually smaller. If you need more compact storage space, wine coolers are much cheaper on average and can hold around ten to eighteen bottles. 

Wine coolers are also quieter than a wine fridge. Wine coolers use thermoelectric cooling, while wine refrigerators use compression technology, much like a conventional refrigerator.

Now that we know the best places to store wine and the ideal storage temperatures, let’s look at one more crucial aspect to consider when it comes to wine temperature.

Best Wine Serving Temperatures

After your wine has appropriately aged, it’s time to indulge in a glass at home or serve it to loved ones. The best temperature to serve wine is slightly below room temperature, with some somewhat chillier than others. 

Considering the same principles, red wines should be served closer to the room temperature mark, with white wine served a bit colder and sparkling wine even colder than that. 

Here is the specific breakdown for wine serving temperature by type:

• Red wine: Best served slightly chilled between 58-65 degrees Fahrenheit. Red wines will also need about a half hour in the decanter to oxidize, bringing out its more robust fruit and floral notes. 

• White Wine: Chill white wines for longer (about a half hour or a little more) to bring it to a chilly 45-55 degrees Fahrenheit. This will bring out your white wine’s crisp and refreshing character.

• Sparkling Wine: The coldest of all, serve at an icy 38-45 degrees Fahrenheit to complement those delicate bubbles.

  

Pay Close Attention to Wine Storage Temperatures

We hope this guide has served you well as you venture into your wine storage hobby. As you can see, temperature can make or break your wine storage and enhance the tasting experience. 

Store wine like a pro with these starter tips and enjoy the process!

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