There is quite a bit that goes into proper wine storage. It might seem like any old alcoholic beverage, but regarding storage, it is one of the more sensitive ones. Wine is very complex, it needs to age, and it has a specific chemistry.
To ensure that your wine is as optimal as can be when it comes time to drink it, you need to store it at the proper temperature. Today we want to talk about the proper temperature to store various wines, plus whether or not you need a dual zone wine cooler. Yes, there are both single and dual temperature zone wine fridges, so how do you know which is right for you?
Red wine is a wine that needs to be kept a little warmer than others, especially compared to white wine, but it does need to be slightly chilled nonetheless. The recommendation is to store your red wine anywhere from 45° to 65° Fahrenheit (7° to 18° Celsius). Most experts would agree that the ideal temperature is 55° F (13° C), but usually, this comes down to personal preferences.
You don’t need to worry too much if your wine cooler is a little warmer than 55 degrees, but this means that the shelf life won’t be quite as long. A slightly cooler storage area for red wine will ensure that it has a prolonged shelf life. It also depends on the type of red wine involved.
Lighter red wine should be stored a little cooler than the heavier ones. Realistically, heavy red wines can be stored in temperatures up to 68°F (20°C), but a little cooler is still ideal.
Temperature to Store White Wine
Regarding storage temperature, white wine needs to be kept a little cooler than red wine. Most white wines require a temperature between 45° and 55° Fahrenheit (7° to 18° Celsius), with somewhere around 50°F (10°C) being the ideal.
The chemistry of white wine, the aging process, and the drinking temperature all involve a lower temperature than that of red wine. Once again, this is not an exact science per say, as some people prefer a longer shelf life while others prefer the wine to mature faster. It depends on your personal preferences to a certain extent.
Temperature to Store Rose Wines
Rose is another really nice wine to drink, one that most people would say is a like a mix of red and white wine. Against what you might think, rose needs to be stored a little cooler than both red and white wine. It might look like a mix between red and white wine, but this logic does not apply to the temperature at which it should be stored at.
Most recommend to store rose somewhere between 40° and 45° Fahrenheit (4° to 7° Celsius).
Temperature to Store Sparkling Wine
Sparkling wines need to be stored at a fairly cool temperature. This has to do both with their chemistry as well as the carbonation. Sparkling wine will stay more carbonated if it is kept at a cooler temperature. Sparkling wines should be stored between 41° and 46° F (5° to 8° Celsius) .
Temperature to Store Ice Wine
Ice wines are great to drink on a hot summer day. What is funny is that ice wine needs to be stored at a temperature slightly higher than a rose. Rose needs to be stored at around 41°F (5°C), whereas ice wine should be stored at around 43° F (6°C).
Temperature to Store Champagne
Champagne is a fancy drink, one usually reserved for special occasions. This kind of wine should be stored at around 45° Fahrenheit (6°C). That being said, cheaper champagne should be stored at a cooler temperature, as low as 37°F (3°C). The cheaper type do not have the same structural integrity as the more expensive, and therefore needs to be kept a little cooler.
Temperature to Store Fortified Wine
Fortified wine can come in both red and white wines, plus a couple of others too. As with normal wines, white fortified wines need to be kept fairly cool, somewhere around 47° F (8°C) . Ports and sherries need to be kept a little warmer, somewhere around 63° Fahrenheit (17°C).
Single Zone vs. Dual Zone Coolers
When it comes to deciding what kind of wine cellar you need – whether a single or dual zone cooler – there are a few things to keep in mind. First off, do you plan on having more than one type of wine? If you want to be able to store more than one type of wine in the same cooler, you will need to get a dual zone cooler, unless you want 2 separate wine fridges.
Dual zone coolers are convenient because you can set varying temperatures for individual compartments. Dual zone coolers are a little bigger and require more space, plus they tend to be a little more expensive too. However, they are the only option to go with if you have more than one type of wine.
On the other hand, if you are just starting a wine collection, or only like one type of wine, a single zone cooler will be just fine. They tend to be a little smaller, less expensive, and easier to use. There is no point in getting a dual zone cooler if you will be storing only one type of wine in both compartments. Simply put, deciding whether or not you need a dual zone wine fridge depends on how many types of wine you want to store.
Conclusion
As you can see, different wines need to be stored at different temperatures for various reasons. So, before you go out and buy any kind of wine fridge, whether dual or single zone, make sure that it is the right option for you.
