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Wine Temperature and Keeping Your White or Red Wine at Its Prime

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Chances are, if you're a wine drinker, you are going to have some knowledge about wine temperature.

As a basic, we keep reds at room temperature, and chill the whites in the fridge or cooler.

But, there's actually a bit more to it than meets the eye. There is actually an optimal temperature for different types of wines that'll keep them fresh and flavorful.

You may have seen the fancy, glass-paneled storage rooms some fancy restaurants have. They're not just for decorations or display.

These rooms are set to a specific temperature in a moisture-controlled area that keeps the bottles at its prime.

So what exactly should you know about keeping wine temperature? I've listed a few key points below that'll help you keep your collection at its best.

• High temperatures (above 65° F) causes wine to age faster, thus losing its flavor and character
• When a bottle is chilled at too cold a temperature, it also loses its flavor
• Store them in cellars, wine coolers or fridges, or climate controlled rooms if possible
• Keep the wine out of direct sunlight and heat exposure
• Don't let the temp fluctuate; doing so will cause damage to both the cork and the wine
• Store your bottles horizontally, so as to keep the cork moist and prevent it from crumbling into the wine
• Don't ever leave your bottle in the freezer as this will cause the content to expand, and explode the glass
• Typical storage temp for whites are: 45° - 50° F
• For Reds, the typical storage temps are: 52° - 65° F
• Darker, richer reds such as Bordeaux can be served at around
  64° F, which is a few degrees below room temp
• Ligher, fruitier reds can be served slightly cooler at around 47° F
• Most fridges will be way too cold for whites, so take the bottle out beforehand and let it chill for 5-10 minutes before serving
• Don't store your reds outside at room temp for extended periods of time. Doing so, you'll end up "cooking" the wine to a slow death

Keep these points about wine temperature in mind, and you should be able to keep your favorite bottle fresher and enjoy it for a longer time.

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