The Ideal Temperature to Store Red Wine (1)

1. The Ideal Temperature to Store Red Wine by James THE WINE STOP 01

2. Presentation Outline Did you finally open that fancy and expensive bottle of wine you were saving for a special occasion? You swirled and gargled it in your mouth, only to find it flat or tasteless. It is plausible that you are storing wine incorrectly. 1 — Temperature 2 — Type of wine 3 — Too cold? 4 — Lock away from lights 5 — Storage units 6 — Opened-bottle 7 — How should you serve the wine? So, how to make wines last, and what’s the ideal temperature to store red wine? Here is everything you need to know to keep safe your prized wine collection: 02

3. Temperature About the Temperature to Store Red Wine It is an important variable that many amateur wine enthusiasts are oblivious to when they first start. A common misconception is that wine is supposed to be at room temperature. There is only a slight truth to it as our room temperature may vary due to personal preference or weather. The ideal range is 12℃ to 19℃, and 13℃ is said to be the sweet spot for red wine temperature. Anything above 24℃ will age the wine faster than the desired rate. It will start to lose its flavour and aroma. 03

4. Type of wine Each wine is aged differently and has a varied composition which means storing red wine temperature may vary to white wine. Something you might have already noticed while drinking — white wines are colder than red. The flavour palates of whites tend to be sweet and fruity, and red wines have bitter, woody, and strong zest. The best temperature to store red wines is 13℃ and above (till 21℃) The clarity doesn’t stop here. Even different red wines need different temps to store red wine. Full body reds like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz: 17℃-19℃ Light, fruity red like Pinot Noir: 13℃-16℃ 04

5. Too cold? A Brief Definition Going extreme on either side of the scale is bad for wine. Keeping it in the fridge or a cold storage unit for a long will dilute the taste. Nobody wants chilled grape juice when they ask for wine. Champagne or sparkling is the only white wines for which temp storage should be cold to keep the bubbles intact. 01 05

6. LOCK AWAY FROM LIGHTS Ever wondered why red wines always come in dark bottles? It acts like sunglasses to filter the UV rays from light. If you are storing them in a heated and lighted area, the wine is going to oxidise. It will separate the wine particles and make the drink highly tannic and acidic to taste. Stock your red wine in a dark, cool, and safe area. 06

7. Storage units Rule out the refrigerator, kitchen, boiler room, and laundry room completely out of your list to keep wine. The fridge runs colder than the ideal red wine storage temperature. Even the food inside can contaminate the bottle with its smell. On the other hand, rooms like the kitchen and boiler room are too hot. The heat will trigger the wine to age and ruin it. Opened-bottle Once the bottle is open, consume within three to four days. Each time you open, re-cork the bottle again to avoid letting the oxygen seep inside. But if you can not re-cork it, a rubber wine sealer comes in handy to avoid ruining a perfectly fine bottle. 07

8. How should you serve the wine? A Brief Definition Personal preference does come into play. But, for a wine enthusiast to fully savour a quality bottle, a basic etiquette is to keep the best temp to store red wine right before serving. For instance, keep your red wine refrigerated 30 minutes before serving. It helps enhance the fruitier and sweeter flavour while still maintaining a balanced temp. White wine temp storage in the fridge should be a tad bit longer as they are preferred to be served chilled. Wine is a perfect dinner companion to have. Be it Sunday brunches, date nights, or a dinner with your friends – wine is a lovely conversation starter and pairs with any food. Pay your respects to this beautiful alcohol by truly savouring the taste and aroma by storing it right. So, now that you are ready with all information, happy wine collecting! 08

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