Storing Wine for Aging
While it’s true that red wine, white wine and sparkling wine are meant to be served at different temperatures, they should all be stored at the same temperature to ensure their proper aging and biochemical development.
We believe that all wine should be stored long-term at temperatures ranging from 55 to 60 degrees. In addition to constant temperatures, ideal wine storage conditions include humidity in the range of 50-70%, clean air, minimal vibration and protection from harmful UV rays.
Serving wine is a different story
A wine’s body, sugar perception, aroma and acidity all will be affected by the serving temperature of the wine. For example, red wine that is served too warm will convey more alcohol aroma than fruit, and the wine’s flavor will be compressed. Conversely, white wine served too cold will convey more acidity and the aroma; the body and sweetness will be muted.
Each wine should be served at the proper temperature based on the type and style of the wine. Most red wine should be served at “room temperature”, which term has historic roots in 18th Century Europe and refers to temperatures ranging from 60 to 65 degrees. Most white wine should be served at “cellar temperature”, which term refers to temperatures ranging from 50 to 55 degrees. Sparkling wine should be served “iced”, which refers to temperatures ranging from 40 to 45 degrees.
Look for dual-temperature zones when considering wine coolers for storing wine that will be consumed in the near term.