Wine Storage: What temperature should wine be kept at?

As you may have noticed we have a brand new page on our website, giving you all the information you need to know about our specialist wine storage facility.

On our wine storage page we tell you how specialist storage is crucial for protecting your wine against climatic effects experienced in Hong Kong. However if you are a fledgling wine collector then you may be wondering why it is so crucial that these factors be controlled in the storage of your wine.

Over the next few weeks we will be telling you all you need to know about the best environment in which to store your wine from the optimal temperature to correct bottle orientation, to ensure that when you are ready to open the cork so is your wine and why it is so crucial.

Today we will cover Storage Temperature.
 
Correct storage temperature and avoiding temperature fluctuations is crucial in achieving favourable ageing of wine and preventing degeneration, which all poses a crucial question;

What temperature should wine be kept at?

Although authorities vary slightly on the exact temperatures, consensus agrees that a range of 12-16ᵒC creates the best conditions for the ageing process for the majority of wines.

Research has indicated that the chemical reactions involved in the ageing process of wine double with each 8ᵒC rise in temperature. Below the optimal temperature these chemical reactions required for the ageing process of wine decelerate or stop altogether meaning the wine does not age as desired.

When wine is stored above temperatures of around 16ᵒC the chemical reactions of the ageing process occur too quickly for with wine to properly develop the complexity and aromatic bouquet desired. Temperatures rising above 20ᵒC can result in degeneration or ‘cooking’ of the wine, which much like corked wine spoils the flavour and aromas of the bottle.

Avoiding temperature fluctuations is equally important. When the temperature of the wine rises, the wine inside the bottle expands, increasing the pressure and eventually causing some of the wine to escape and evaporate. When the temperature then decreases the process is reversed, creating a vacuum within the bottle sucking air inside. When this occurs repeatedly the increased amount of oxygen inside the bottle causes oxidation and thus degeneration of the wine.

So there you have it keeping wine at a constant temperature between 12 and 16ᵒC is optimal when storing wine for any length of time.

Of course as with anything there are exceptions to the rule, but we'll cover those in a future post.
If you would like to learn more about our wine storage options, or to get a quote feel free to contact us.