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So, you’ve just invested in a wine cooler to store your growing wine collection, but you’re not sure how to set the temperature.
Storing wine in a wine cooler is very important as it maintains your wine’s optimal temperature. This helps in enhancing the flavor, preventing spoilage from heat, cold, or temperature fluctuations. Well, adjusting the temperature based on the needs of red, white, and sparkling wines is the key.
Follow these simple tips on how to set wine refrigerator temperature, and you’ll be enjoying perfectly chilled whites and reds in no time:
Setting Temperature for Long Term Storage
When you intend to store wine for a long time, you need to set your dual zone wine coolers at the right temperatures. Make sure your wine coolers obtain a relaxed environment and a stable temperature. Maintain the temperature between 53 to 57 degrees without fluctuations.
Note that warmer temperatures age wines too quickly while cooler temperatures stunt the evolution of volatile flavor compounds. The humidity levels of the storage environment should be about 70% to keep corks moist. This is because dry cork permits air into the bottle, causing unpleasant oxidation.
Setting Temperature for Short Term Storage
If you are planning on storing your wine for a short term, then go for a dedicated wine refrigerator or wine chiller since they’re designed to retain humidity rather than driving it out. For short term storage, set your wine chiller to an optimum storage temperature of about 40 degrees. This suggests that your kitchen fridge is too cold and too dry for proper short term wine storage.
Red Wine Storage Temperature
What is the optimal temperature for storing wine such as merlot, pinot noir, or cabernet sauvignon? Well, red wines should be stored best between 60 to 65 degrees. Experts also consider 62 degrees ideal, as the remaining below room temperature prevents cooking the wine with heat flattening its flavors.
It also avoids cold temperatures that can increase tannins to unpleasant levels. A bottle of red wine can stay safely at room temperature for up to two days. Make sure you store your open bottle of red wine away from the kitchen’s heat and direct sunlight, which can negatively affect the flavor.
Storage Temperature for White Wine
Unlike red wine, the flavors of white wines and rose wines are more delicate. They are best served chilled between 45 and 50 degrees, with most experts leaning towards the lower end of that range. The average wine storage temperature chart recommends storing white wine between 50 degrees to 60 degrees, 55 degrees is considered perfect.
Beware the standard refrigerator when storing white wines, as cold temperatures can mute some of its fragile nuances. This is why a wine cooler is so essential for keeping white wines and roses at their best. If your kitchen fridge is set between 36 and 40 degrees, it can dull some of the flavors of your white and rose wines.
Best Temperature for Sparkling and Sweet White Wines
When storing sweet wines and sparkling wines, colder temperatures are the best. If your wine cooler isn’t cold enough, the bubbles in sparkling wines will be less active, and the flavors in sweet wines will be more pronounced. For both of these types of wines, aim for a wine storage temperature between 45 and 50 degrees.
Also, be careful to avoid temperatures that are too low since they can dampen the aroma and give your sparkling wine unpleasant sharpness. Sweet white wines like Riesling and white Zinfandel have fruity flavors enhanced by cold temperatures.
Single Zone Wine Fridge Temperature Settings
A single zone wine fridge is only capable of keeping all the wine at one set temperature. So pick the temperature, and all the wine inside will be stored in this setting. The ideal temperature for a single zone wine fridge is 53.6 degrees to 57.2 degrees Fahrenheit.
This is the ideal storage temperature for all wines, making it easier to chill and warm up a bottle depending on the type you enjoy. If you want to keep your bottles at serving temperature, use the ranges above to determine the best temperature.
Dual Zone Wine Fridge Temperature Settings
A dual zone wine fridge is much more versatile. You can both store and chill or warm up bottles in the same appliance. Most dual zone wine coolers will require you to set the upper and lower temperature settings separately. Before making a purchase, make sure you check the best wine coolers and fridges that have either a single zone or dual zone that’s tailored to your needs.
Settings for Red Wines
If you drink red, set a zone at storage temperature between 53.6 degrees Fahrenheit to 57.2 degrees Fahrenheit and the other zone at serving temperature between 62 degrees Fahrenheit to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Move the bottle from the storage to the warming up area at least a few hours before drinking.
Settings for White Wines
Set a zone for white wines at storage temperature between 53.6 degrees Fahrenheit to 57.2 degrees Fahrenheit and the other zone at a lower serving temperature between 49 degrees Fahrenheit to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. There is a bit of overlap in the bottom of the ideal storage temperature range and the top of the serving temperature range. This makes white wines much more convenient to keep in a wine refrigerator.
FAQs on How to Set Wine Cooler Temperature
How to raise the temperature on a wine cooler?
If your wine cooler is set too low, you can raise the temperature by:
- Adjusting the thermostat to a higher setting
- Moving the wine cooler to a warmer location
- Adding additional insulation around the wine cooler
- Placing a space heater near the wine cooler
What is the coldest area in a wine cooler?
The coldest area in a wine cooler is typically near the bottom and back. This is where the compressor is located, where the coldest air will accumulate.
What is the coldest setting in a wine cooler?
The coldest setting in a wine cooler is typically between 45-55 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the ideal temperature range for storing white wines and champagne. In fact, if you want to know how cold a wine cooler gets, then you know a refrigerator can get as cold as 46 degrees Fahrenheit.
Final Thought on How to Set Wine Cooler Temperature
Setting a wine cooler temperature is important for storing your wine properly. When your wine is stored correctly, you can enjoy it for many years to come. By following the tips above, you can be sure that your wine will be stored at the ideal temperature and remain in perfect condition.
The post How to Set Wine Cooler Temperature appeared first on Kitchen Infinity.
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