People tend to think red wines are okay to store at room temperature because they drink them at room temperature. (Which, since the advent of central heating, you really shouldnât. But serving temperature is another topic.)
Now, you might be thinking, âBut I donât plan to age my wines.â
Itâs true most wine made these days is meant to be consumed within a few years. That $10 California Cab is not going to taste any better with age.
After several trips around the sun, it starts to lose its freshness. So donât bother holding on to it, hoping it will eventually taste like a $50 bottle from Napa.
But you can still do some pretty serious damage to a bottle of wine in a short time without some basic precautions. For example, keeping it in one of those wine racks above the stove that home builders seem to think is a great idea.
I donât know about you, but a prefer my wine not be cooked before I drink it!
And if you are looking to age your collection of precious Barolos or Bordeauxs, then itâs even more important to store your red wines at the right temperature and in the right storage conditions. This allows the wine to develop new aromas and flavors during the aging process while holding onto its fruit and acidity.
Thereâs nothing worse than opening that special bottle youâve been saving for a decade, only to find that it tastes like vinegar.
Keep reading to find out the best temperature to store red wine and how to create the perfect storage conditions.
BTW, if you havenât yet, make sure to grab my free Wine Tasting Planner. It has 20+ wine night theme ideas, including the exact ones Iâve used for my wine tastings. Plus, a timeline, food pairings, games, free printables, worksheets, and more. Get your copy here.
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What is the Best Temperature to Store Red Wine?
Wines age four times faster when theyâre stored at room temperature.* And I donât mean in a good way. So, keeping them at cooler temperatures helps preserve the good aromas and flavors.
But donât go too cold. At 20°F wine will start to freeze and force the cork out of the bottle. A wine popsicle might sound tasty on a hot summer day, but trust me, it wonât do your wine any favors.
As a general rule, the correct temperature at which to store red wines is between 55 and 60°F (12-15°C). If you want to get more precise, the ideal temperature for full-bodied red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon is 60°F. And for light-bodied red wines like Pinot Noir, aim for 55°F.
Check out more differences between Pinot Noir vs Cabernet Sauvignon.
You also want to keep your wines at a consistent temperature. Wine corks have a lot of elasticity and contain air bubbles. Temperature fluctuations will cause them to expand and contract. This lets oxygen into the bottle. And too much oxygen is a bad thing for your delicious vino.
How Should You Store Red Wine?
Transporting Your Wine
Before you even get your wine home make sure itâs been cared for properly. Be wary of buying wine from any store that feels hot when you walk inside. Or displays its bottles in direct sunlight.
You also shouldnât leave wine in a hot car for a long time while you run errands. Or forget it in your trunk when you get home.
If youâre visiting a local winery, bring a cooler with you. Even better, pack a picnic in the cooler. Once youâve consumed all your snacks at the winery, you can fill it with your wine purchases. Make sure to keep it in the passenger area of your car so it doesnât get too hot on the ride home.
When ordering wine online, keep the time of year in mind. Avoid having wine shipped during the hottest months of the year. A case sitting in a 100-degree delivery truck for several days is no bueno.
If you canât avoid it, look for sites that offer temperature-controlled or expedited shipping.
Wine Storage Conditions
Besides storing your wine at the proper temperature, there are a few other best practices to follow when creating the ideal storage conditions.
Humidity levels should be between 55-75% (70% is ideal). Too low and the cork will dry out and let in oxygen. Too high and mold will grow. You can get an inexpensive device like this to monitor humidity levels.
Wine needs a dark storage area, with no direct sunlight. It should even be kept away from fluorescent lights. Why? UV rays can cause chemical reactions with the wineâs amino acids. And this will make your wine stinky (like wet dog stinky).
If you donât have a dark place to store your wines, wrap the bottles in a cloth or use a bag to block the light.
Youâll also want good ventilation to retain your wineâs flavor. That airtight closet with your special spice collection might seem like the ideal spot. But youâll think twice when your Pinot smells like paprika. Find a spot thatâs free of strong smells and has good airflow.
And while you may enjoy having a glass of vino while jamming out to Marky Markâs âGood Vibrations,â youâll want to avoid vibrations when it comes to storing your wine. Over time theyâll cause the quality to depreciate, reducing aromatics and dulling the flavors.
Wine bottles should be stored on their side. This keeps the cork moist, so it doesnât dry out and oxidize the wine. Note that this is not an issue with screw caps (which are being used more and more for quality wines!).
Red Wine Storage Options
Wine Refrigerator
A wine fridge, also known as a wine cooler, is a great way to keep your bottles of wine at the optimal temperature.
You can choose between free-standing styles or ones that can be installed under a counter. And they come in all shapes and sizes, with options fitting as few as 8 bottles to more than 100.
Many also have dual temperature zones, meaning you can store wine in the top half at different temperatures than the bottom half.
Before purchasing one, make sure you have space to put it in a location that is also temperature controlled.
It may seem convenient to keep it on the sunporch so you can whip out a fresh bottle when Aunt Sallyâs glass gets low. But the fridge will have to work a lot harder to maintain a constant temperature, so it wonât last as long.
Wine Cellar
If a wine fridge isnât enough to hold your wine collection, consider building a wine cellar for long-term storage.
This will give you more flexibility to organize the bottles by region, country, vintage, or grape type. Plus, labels make it so you can impress your friends by sending them down to grab a bottle of the â1982 Chateau Lafite.â
A basement can be a good place for a wine cellar if itâs a consistent, cool temperature and there isnât too much humidity. Or for a bit more money, you can make the space temperature controlled.
Professional Storage
Did you know there are companies that will store your wine for you? If you donât have the space or want a higher level of quality control, you can send your special bottles off for safekeeping.
You can rest easy knowing your wines will receive precise climate control and better security. Plus, most professional storage companies offer services like authentication from wine experts, safer shipping methods, and full insurance on your wineâs value.
Professional storage is typically charged as a monthly fee by the case.
Wine Cabinet or Wine Rack
These should be your last-resort options and only used for short-term storage. Wines can last up to a year if the temperature is fairly stable and doesnât exceed 80°F.
A cabinet or closet is better for keeping the light out than an exposed wine rack. Just make sure itâs free of strong smells and has good ventilation.
For a wine rack, find a location in your house thatâs away from direct sunlight and that doesnât get too hot. Ideally, a basement if the humidity isnât too high.
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How to Store Red Wine Thatâs Been Opened
So, you opened that bottle youâve been dying to try and want to savor it over the next few days. Or maybe your bestie is coming over later in the week and you want to save a glass.
Red wines can generally last 3-5 days after opening if theyâre stored properly. The more tannins the wine has, the longer it will keep. In fact, high-tannin wines are often better on the second or third day after opening.
Vacuum pumps can help extend the life of the wine by sucking out the oxygen. Or a Coravin will allow you to enjoy a glass or two without even opening the bottle.
The most important thing is keeping the bottle at cool temperatures. You can put a wine stopper in it and pop it back into your wine fridge. Or if you donât have one, you can store it in your regular fridge. Just make sure to take it out an hour before you plan to drink it so it has time to warm up a bit.
Then pour a glass, sit back, and enjoy that tasty vino!
P.S. Do you know the difference between mead vs wine? Find out here.
*Study conducted by the Edmund Mach Foundation wine academy in San Michele allâAdige, Italy
Whatâs your red-wine storage method of choice?
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