What Is the Best Temperature to Store Wine?

Nothing brings people together or helps them relax after a stressful day like a good bottle of wine. Fortunately, most wine can be stored at room temperature for six months to a year without going bad. However, if you plan on storing wine for longer than a year or have wines that need to age, you’ll want to consider the proper wine storage temperature.

Storing wine at the ideal temperature helps it age gracefully and will go a long way toward preventing the development of faults. So, what is the best temperature to store wine? 

Ideal Wine Storage Temperature

You might assume that there’s a difference between the best red wine storage temperature and the best white wine storage temperature. That’s understandable, considering that red wine is often served at room temperature while white wine is mostly served chilled. However, the truth is that almost all wine does best when stored at temperatures between 45 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. 

The best temperature to store wine is in the low to mid-50s, with many wine connoisseurs suggesting that 55 degrees Fahrenheit is the best wine storage temperature. 

While you don’t have to store your reds and whites at different temperatures, there are a few other important factors to consider. 

Temperature Fluctuations

Wine does not do well in extreme heat or extreme cold. At temperatures above 70 degrees, wine will age and degrade more quickly. If temperatures reach over 80 degrees, the heat begins to break down subtle flavors and aromas in the wine. Heat can also damage a wine’s seal, allowing oxygen into the wine. Oxygen causes wine to oxidize, which can change the wine’s aroma and flavor profile. 

Do you refrigerate wine? 

Wine can keep in a fridge for a few months, but cooler temperatures can dry out corks, allowing oxygen in. Freezing wine will cause the liquid to expand, which could force out the cork.

Avoid storing your wine in any places that experience temperature fluctuations, like your garage, attic, kitchen, or laundry room. 

Light

Ideally, you’ll want to store your wine in a dark area that gets little, if any, light. The sun’s UV rays can prematurely age wines and degrade their flavor profiles, especially white wines, which tend to come in light-colored or clear bottles. 

Humidity

Too little or too much humidity can also impact your wine. In arid conditions, the cork can dry out, leading to oxygen getting into the wine. In especially dry areas of California, wine owners need to keep an eye on humidity levels.

When humidity gets too high, the damp environment could promote mold growth and damage the wine’s label and cork.

Ideally, wine storage humidity should be kept between 50% and 80%.

How To Store Wine Bottles

Finally, how you store your wine could help preserve your collection for a longer time. Have you ever noticed how most wine fridges and racks store wine bottles on their sides? There’s a reason for that. 

Storing wine on its side will help keep the cork moist so it won’t dry out. It also allows sediment to settle along the length of the bottle instead of just collecting at the bottom. Finally, storing wine bottles on their sides is an efficient way to save space.

Where To Store Your Wine

The occasional wine drinker can probably get away with storing wine at home in a wine rack or small wine cooler. But if you have a large collection and don’t live in a house with a wine cellar or huge wine cooler, consider outside storage.

Price Self Storage offers temperature and humidity-controlled storage units at many of our facilities. These units will allow you to set the ideal temperature for your wine collection.

Want to store your wine in the absolute best environment possible? Our Walnut Creek location offers wine-specific storage. Rent individual lockers or a walk-in storage space that can be outfitted with custom shelving and racks. If your wine deserves the best, look for a Price Self Storage location near you.