What is the Best Temperature for a Wine Fridge?

When stored at the right temperature, wine ages gracefully and tastes amazing once uncorked. One of the easiest ways to ensure your wine is stored at the best temperature is to use a wine fridge.

Let’s review the wine storage basics every wine collector needs to know to guarantee delicious tasting wine. Keep these elements in mind as you shop for a wine refrigerator.

1. The ideal storage temperature for wine is 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Wine ages best at a consistently cool temperature, which is why your wine cooler must be installed in a space without large temperature swings. Indoors and away from direct sunlight is best; however, some wine refrigerators are designed for use inside the garage or basement. Modern wine coolers include a digital temperature control panel, making it easy to set and monitor the conditions inside the refrigerator.

2. Humidity is another important element of wine storage. When wine is stored in a dry location for prolonged periods, the corks begin to dry out and lose their seal. Once this happens, air can begin to seep into the bottle and cause oxidization. One way to increase the humidity inside a wine cooler is by purchasing one with a charcoal filter or placing a small dish with a wet sponge inside the cooler. You can monitor the humidity of the cooler using a hygrometer.

3. Wine should not be exposed to harsh lighting, which is one of the reasons why wine bottles are a dark green color. In addition to avoiding UV rays, select a wine cooler with LED lighting instead of harsh fluorescent lighting. LED lighting does not generate heat, so when you turn on the interior lights of your wine cooler to check on your collection, you won’t be affecting the temperature.

4. Vibrations are another enemy of wine as they may cause chemical reactions in the wine, affecting its taste. To avoid vibrations, try not to open and close the door of the wine cooler too many times and locate the wine cooler somewhere with little to no foot traffic.

5. Lastly, wine should be stored horizontally so that the bottle’s liquid constantly touches the cork. This helps to maintain the seal of the bottle and prevent oxidization.

Having a dual-zone wine refrigerator with multiple independent temperature zones provides more options for temperature control. Not everyone, however, needs a dual-zone wine refrigerator. A single zone wine cooler can work for both white and red wines. While all wine can be stored long term at 55 degrees Fahrenheit, each varietal does have its own distinct serving temperature. Dual-zone wine fridges tend to be larger than single-zone wine fridges as they have more storage capacity. For those who love to entertain or drink wine regularly, one zone of the dual zone wine cooler can be set to serving temperature while the other zone remains at storage temperature.

A wine cooler is an excellent and economical storage solution for all wine lovers. Regarding temperature, wine fridges make it easy to create a cellar-like environment at home. Do you have more questions about wine coolers or wine storage temperature? Contact Vinotemp today with our Contact Form.