Wine must be stored in an optimal temperature for it to taste good. It is one of the most neglected factors which can bring the best and worst out of a bottle of wine. This doesn't necessarily mean that wine should be served absolutely chilled or at room temperature. These types of extreme temperatures cause the components present inside the wine to overpower the fruit and hence the wine's whole taste is thrown out of balance.

 

To really appreciate the true flavor of wine, it needs to be stored in a proper temperature. Sadly, people don't often realize it and many great wine ends up being damaged because of the great instability in the temperatures and the moisture contents. If it is served too chilled, then the wine will lose its flavor and the aroma.

 

It also helps to keep the wine away from direct sunlight and exposure to heat, which can damage it. The ideal range of storing wine is 50-55°F or 10-16°C. White wines need to be stored at even lower temperatures, at 45°F. You also need to take care of the humidity levels present in the environment. If the environment is too dry, the cork of the wine bottle will crack and the air will leak inside the bottle, which will ruin the wine. The ideal humidity level for storage of wines is 60-75% relative humidity.

 

If you have always wondered what is the correct wine serving and storage temperature, then have a look at the chart below to get an idea of the same. The wine temperature chart shows the correct temperatures for the wine, so that they don't get damaged.

 

Type of Wine	Max. Temp.	Min. Temp.
Sparkling Wine
Crement, non-vintage and sweet sparkling wine	4 to 6°C	-15 to -13°C
Vintage sparkling wine	6 to 8°C	-14 to -13°C
Late Harvest, Sweet White Wine
Eiswein, Sweet Vouvray	5 to 7°C	-15 to -13°C
Auslese, Spatlese	10 to 12°C	-12 to - 11°C
Sautemes, Beerenauslese	11 to 13°C	-12 to -10°C
Rose
Classic, Rose, Tavel	5 to 7° C	-14 to - 13°C
White Zinfandel	5 to 7°C	-14 to - 13°C
Medium-Sweet White Wine
German Table Wine and QbA	6 to 8°C	-14 to - 13°C
Muscat	6 to 8°C	-14 to - 13°C
New World Riesling and Gewurztraminer	6 to 8°C	-12  to - 11°C
Crisp, Dry, White Wine
Loire Valley Whites	6 to 8°C	-14 to - 13°C
Sauvignon Blanc	6 to 8°C	-14 to - 13°C
Alsace Riesling	6 to 8°C	-14 to - 13°C
Italian Whites	6 to 8°C	-14 to - 13°C
Classic White Wine
French, Chablis, Chardonnay, White Burgandy	9 to 11°C	-13 to -11°C
Graves, Viognier, Condrieu	9 to 11°C	-13 to -11°C
Complex White Wine
Full-bodied Chardonnay and White Burgundy	10 to 12°C	-12 to -11°C
Graves	10 to12°C	-12 to -11°C
Light Red Wine
Beaujolais Nouveau	9 to 11°C	-12 to -11°C
Beaujolais	10 to 12°C	-12 to -11°C
Cotes du Rhone (vin de pays)	11 to 13°C	-12 to -10°C
Classic Red Wine
Barbera, Chianti, Sanglovese	13 to 14°C	-10 to -9°C
Young Bordeaux, Young Cabernet	14 to 16°C	-10  to -9°C
Merlot	14 to 16°C	-10  to -9°C
Lighter Zinfandel	14 to 16°C	-10  to -9°C
Complex Red Wine
Barolo, Chianti Riserva	16 to 17°C	-9 to -8°C
Merlot (oak-aged)	16 to 17°C	-9 to -8°C
Full-bodied, Mature Red Wine
Grand Cru Bordeaux, Mature California Cabernet	16 to 18°C	-9 to -7°C
Mature Rhone	16 to 18°C	-9 to -7°C
Zintandel	16 to 18°C	-9 to -7°C
Port
Tawny Port (chilled)	10 to 12°C	-12 to -11°C
Tawny Port	15 to 17°C	-9 to -8°C
Vintage Port	16 to 18°C	-9  to -8°C