It’s pretty likely that you have red wine bottles at home that you’re storing, whether it be in your living room or in your basement. Most people have at least some wine at home. However, not everyone knows the best way to store it. In this article, we will discuss at what temperature red wine should be stored.
There is no one definitive answer to this question, as red wine storage temperatures vary depending on the wine type, vintage, and storage location. However, if you’re looking for the ideal, perfect temperature for red wine storage, it should be stored at a temperature of 55°F.
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Some people have a wine cellar or room in their house that is naturally colder where they can store their wine. Other people might store their wine in a wine refrigerator if they are worried about it getting too warm.
Ultimately, the best way to store your wine is to know your own personal preferences and storage needs. You don’t absolutely need to strive for the perfect temperature, you just need to get in the ball park range and do it in a way that is convenient for you.
What is the Ideal Temperature for Red Wine Storage?
When it comes to wine, temperature is key. The ideal temperature is 55°F, according to wine experts. However, it’s perfectly fine for wine to be stored between 45°F and 65°F. Keeping your wine within this range and not changing its location often will do the most to preserve the wine’s flavor and aroma.
If you’re storing your wine in a cool, dark place, like a cellar, it’s likely that the temperature is already within that range, so you can store it there without worries. When you’re ready to drink it, you would bring it up to the proper drinking temperature, which varies by wine type.
If you’re not sure about the temperature in your cellar, you should take a temperature reading over a few average weather days to see. Also check the temp in the summer and winter to be sure it doesn’t change dramatically. The last thing you need is to end up with frozen wine.
How To Keep Red Wine at the Correct Temperature
If there is too much fluctuation in temperature (more than a 5 degree shift during the day), then it’s probably not an ideal place to store your wine long term. For short term storage, a wine rack in the kitchen is fine as long as it’s not too close to a heat source, like the refrigerator or the TV.
You also want to avoid high or low humidity when storing your wine. You don’t want the cork to dry out, which can occur if the humidity level is too low for an extended period of time. The ideal relative humidity (RH) for wine storage is 50 to 70. Regardless of where you’re storing the wine, if it has a cork it should be stored on its side.
In a Cellar
You can keep your red wine at the correct temperature by storing it in a cool, dark place, like a cellar or basement. This is the ideal location for storing wine because it’s naturally cooler than other parts of the house and it’s dark, which helps to preserve the wine’s flavor and aroma.
In a Wine Refrigerator
If you don’t have a cooler or cellar to store your wine in, you can refrigerate it. Not just in your regular refrigerator, but in a dedicated wine fridge. Be sure to buy a wine refrigerator that provides enough storage space for your needs.
Wine refrigerators come in all different sizes and they also can be split into two different temperature zones so you can keep your whites and reds at separate temperatures.
On a Wine Rack
If you keep your wine on a wine rack in the living room or kitchen of your house, that is generally fine to do as long as you are careful about temperature fluctuations. Wine should be kept from too widely fluctuating temperatures. There should be a less than 5 degrees change in temperature per day.
It’s best to use a wine rack for every day drinking wines that you plan to keep no longer than a couple of months, not special wines that you are intent on aging. As normal house temperatures reach as high as 74 degrees, it’s just not ideal for keeping a wine at its best.
If your house gets particularly hot in the summer, you could have a problem with some bottles getting too hot. I’ve had a bottle of white that wasn’t perfectly stable explode on the wine rack during summer.
How to Know If It’s Stored At the Right Temp?
If you’re worried about whether your wine is at the right temperature or not, you can use a wine thermometer. This will help you to monitor the temperature of your wine and make sure it’s staying within the correct range.
The best way to decide how to store your wine is to experiment with different temperatures and storage locations around your house to find what suits your needs the best.
What Happens if Red Wine is Not Stored at the Correct Temperature?
If red wine isn’t stored at the correct temperature:
- It can cause the wine to lose aroma and flavor.
- In extreme cases, it can also cause the wine to become cloudy and develop a vinegar smell.
- The cork can become damaged and cause the wine to be corked, which degrades the wine’s flavor and aroma.
If you’re storing red wine in a non-refrigerated area, be sure to keep it in a dark, cool place. This will keep it from being exposed to harsh light, which can change the flavor of the wine, or be exposed to humidity that can also ruin it.
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Conclusion
Storing red wine at the correct temperature is crucial for preserving its flavor and quality. If you follow the tips in this article, you can ensure that your red wine is stored properly and will taste great every time you drink it.
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Laura is the founder and editor of the travel blogs Savored Sips and Savored Journeys. She is dedicated to sharing the best information about drinks found around the world.