Why make such a fuss over storing wine at a specific temperature?
There is a fairly simple answer. Wine, like any food or drink, is perishable. Storing it in an environment that is too hot OR to cold will cause it to lose its flavor…and the flavor is what we make all the fuss s about!
The goal in wine storage is a stable, ideal temperature.
There are many wine storage options available. Look for features designed stabilize including dual storage zones which allows storage at two or more temperatures within one unit, digital controls that maintain temperature and humidity, and UV protection.
When you are ready to serve the wine, you are looking for a temperature that showcases its characteristics. Just like eating a frozen waffle while it is still frozen, if you serve wine too cold the flavor is lost. Serving wine too hot can cause the taste to be overwhelmed by alcohol.
A large portion of the wine drinking experience comes not only from the taste of the wine but also the smell. When the temperature of the wine rises, vapors are created giving the drinker a matching aroma to the taste.
Room Temperature is rarely ‘wine drinking temperature’…think Texas in July. Nobody wants a 100° Chardonnay! Keeping your wine at a stable temperature lets you allow for time to either, chill your wine if the ideal serving temperature is lower than storage, or let your wine warm from storage temperature to it’s ideal serving temperature using your rooms temperature as a gauge.
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