{"id":30,"date":"2019-11-29T17:15:21","date_gmt":"2019-11-30T01:15:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/?p=30"},"modified":"2023-07-14T06:06:00","modified_gmt":"2023-07-14T13:06:00","slug":"store-unopened-red-wine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/store-unopened-red-wine\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Store Unopened Red Wine the RIGHT Way(s)"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>img#mv-trellis-img-1::before{padding-top:66.666666666667%; }img#mv-trellis-img-1{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-2::before{padding-top:66.666666666667%; }img#mv-trellis-img-2{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-3::before{padding-top:66.666666666667%; }img#mv-trellis-img-3{display:block;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\"><em>As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases with no additional costs for you.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Knowing how to properly store unopened red wine can help you better manage your wine and provide a much richer experience when you finally pop the cork. Storing red wine right can prevent damage, enhance the notes and complexity of your wine, and help it age gracefully for a much richer experience. Proper red wine storage is a vital skill to master and it is simple once you know.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">How do you store unopened bottles of red wine?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>Red wine is ideally stored around 55&deg; F so a climate-controlled wine refrigerator or a wine cellar is best because they control humidity and temperature and keep the wine in darkness.<\/b>&nbsp;If you don&rsquo;t have a wine fridge or cellar, a simple wine rack in a climate-controlled setting will allow for proper storage. It is important that no matter where you store wine, you do so with the bottle laying flat to keep the cork wet.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It is important to do things right and more importantly, not do the right things wrong. Storing red wine can be a painless and easy process. In this article, you will learn how to properly store unopened red wine and what factors can potentially damage it.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/red-wine-2443699_960_720_900x.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/red-wine-2443699_960_720_900x.jpg 900w, https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/red-wine-2443699_960_720_900x-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/red-wine-2443699_960_720_900x-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 40px), 720px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20900%20600'%3E%3Crect%20width='900'%20height='600'%20style='fill:%23e3e3e3'\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32 eager-load\" sizes=\"(max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 40px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/red-wine-2443699_960_720_900x.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-1\" data-src=\"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/red-wine-2443699_960_720_900x.jpg.webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/red-wine-2443699_960_720_900x.jpg.webp 900w, https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/red-wine-2443699_960_720_900x-300x200.jpg.webp 300w, https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/red-wine-2443699_960_720_900x-768x512.jpg.webp 768w\" data-svg=\"1\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>How to Store Unopened Red Wine<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>TIP:<\/strong> <em>If you want to check out the best refrigerator for wine storage, I recommend trying out the Avation (18 bottles) compressor refrigerator with Wi-fi smart app control cooling system. You can find this refrigerator by clicking&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/ivation_refri_18\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>here<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;(Amazon link).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>Storage of Unopened Red Wine<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&rsquo;s check the best tips for storing unopened red wine:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>Drink Cheap Table Wine Right Away<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Table wines under $20 are designed to be opened and drank right away. You really won&rsquo;t benefit at all from aging these cheap wines. Red table wines are made to drink right away. In America, they know their audience. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Many Americans want their wine right away and don&rsquo;t want to wait 6 months to 3 years. I mean seriously, that is a long time to wait when you just want some right now. View these cheap table wines as the fast food of red wine.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Buy it under the assumption you&rsquo;ll polish it off within the week. There probably won&rsquo;t be any harm in aging these wines for months\/years but they are finished products. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">They won&rsquo;t improve much if at all with more time. Just stick them in a wine rack. Even placing them in the kitchen refrigerator is fine too. These are not sacred creations.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>TIP: <\/strong><em>What differences make some wines so expensive while others remain cheap? Find out the answer in <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/difference-between-expensive-and-cheap-wines\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the complete guide<\/a><\/strong> I&rsquo;ve written.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>Red Wine Storing Guidelines<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>1. Lay Bottles Flat<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Laying<\/span> your wine bottles flat <span style=\"color: #000000;\">will keep the cork from drying out and cracking which can allow oxygen to penetrate through the cork and oxidize your wine.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>2. Kitchen Refrigerators are NOT Ideal<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/why-is-my-wine-fridge-ice-up\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Fridges will keep wine too cool<\/strong><\/a> for long-term storage and they produce tiny micro-vibrations that can agitate and ruin your wine through prolonged exposure if you are storing the wine for more than 6 months. For a week or so, a kitchen fridge is fine but any longer, and it is detracting from your wine.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>3. Improper Storage Ruins Wine<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you store red wine under less-than-ideal conditions, you will be taking years off the wine. Keep red wine stored in cool, dark, humidity-controlled locations with the bottles laying flat to keep the cork in great shape.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>Determine Where to Store Red Wine<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>1. Wine Rack<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Wine racks are the simplest and cheapest effective way to store unopened red wine. These contraptions look great and do a good job of keeping red wine safe and secure. The thing with wine racks is you will need to control the climate you place them. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It will be your responsibility to make sure the wine stays in a dark, cool, low-humidity environment away from major appliances that can cause wine-damaging micro-vibrations. If you are going to use a <a href=\"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/why-wine-racks-lean-forward\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wine rack<\/a>, keep the rack closer to the floor than the ceiling as heat rises.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>2. Wine Refrigerator<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/win1-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-26\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/win1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/win1.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 40px), 720px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/win1-300x200.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-26 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/win1-300x200.jpg.webp 300w, https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/win1.jpg.webp 750w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 40px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/win1.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-2\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This is the best way to store wine <strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/estimated-cost-install-build-wine-cellar\/\" target=\"_blank\">if you can&rsquo;t afford a wine cellar<\/a><\/strong><\/span> and are limited in space. A good wine fridge is climate-controlled to achieve and maintain the ideal storage temperatures for red wine, and <span style=\"color: #000000;\">white wine, and even get <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/champagne-freeze-explode\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>cold enough for champagne<\/strong><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you get a dual-temperature zone wine fridge, you can store both red and white at their respective ideal temperatures simultaneously. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Wine fridges control temperature, eliminate light exposure as well as wine damaging micro-vibrations, and hold wine bottles horizontally to protect your cork. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Depending on your budget, space, and ambition, you can get a wine refrigerator that holds 2 bottles of wine, 64 bottles of wine, and pretty much everything in between.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you want to properly cool your wine, a wine fridge is a great investment. <a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/colzer_15_refri\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>This is one of the very best models currently available for a low price<\/strong><\/a> on Amazon. It is great for reds, whites, and even sparkling wines like Prosecco. Check it out to read real customer reviews.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>3. Wine Cellar<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Building a quality wine cellar can be very expensive and require planning and space to do so. If you already have a nice wine cellar, use it. If you do already have a wine cellar, you probably aren&rsquo;t reading this article because you have been very knowledgeable about wine storage for a long time. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This article is for us unlucky enough to have disposable income, space, and learned wine knowledge that <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">comes with the ability to own a wine cellar.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>TIP:<\/strong> <em>A ton of people believe room temperature is the ideal serving temperature for red wines but that needs correction. Find out the complete guide with a deep explanation in <strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/red-wine-served-room-temperature\/\" target=\"_blank\">this article<\/a><\/strong>. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>Reason to Age Red Wine<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Admittedly, aging wine has grown to mythical levels of reverence. The truth is while aging many wines can improve upon them or make them more complex, aging wine won&rsquo;t create miracles. Perhaps the best reason to age wine is it can save you a ton of money in the long run. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Instead of buying a 15-year aged red wine for hundreds or even thousands of dollars, you can buy a new-release red wine for a tiny fraction of the cost, and in 15 years, you&rsquo;ll have a 15-year aged wine. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The downside is you have to wait 15 years and if space and patience are limited, justifying keeping a bottle of wine that long becomes hard.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To make it easier on you, even a 2 or 3 year aged wine can be a very worthwhile experience. Wines that age best are Bordeaux reds, burgundies, high-acid whites, and champagne. These wines have the structure, tannins, and\/or acidity to handle the aging process with grace.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>How Long to Age Wine?<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>Note: <\/b><\/strong><em>Consult with the wine&rsquo;s expiration date and also ask the seller when the best drink-by dates are and how long he or she recommends aging the wine for. It is also important to know these are loose regulations and the wine may not be best according to their timelines.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>Unopened Wine<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>White wine:<\/b><\/strong>&nbsp;1-2 years beyond the expiration date<\/span><br><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>Red wine:<\/b><\/strong>&nbsp;2-3 years beyond the expiration date<\/span><br><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>Cooking wine:<\/b><\/strong>&nbsp;3-5 years beyond the expiration date<\/span><br><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>Fine wine:<\/b><\/strong>&nbsp;10-20 years<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>Opened Wine<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>White wine:<\/b><\/strong>&nbsp;1-5 days<\/span><br><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>Red wine:<\/b><\/strong>&nbsp;1-2 weeks<\/span><br><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>Cooking wine: <\/b><\/strong>1-3 months<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>But I like My Wine &lsquo;Fruity&rsquo;<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Don&rsquo;t age your red wine. If you enjoy that fruity taste and scent, aging your red wine for more than 6 months will round out the winemaking it more complex but take the edge off that fruitiness you love.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you want to learn how to keep open <strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/how-long-organic-wine-lasts-open\/\" target=\"_blank\">organic red and white wines<\/a><\/strong> for as long as possible check out this article.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff0f3\"><strong>Recommendation box: <\/strong><em>Everything you need to enjoy your wine as much as possible. All recommended products are personally tested and regularly used by experts from this website (Amazon links):<\/em><br><br><strong>  &gt; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/ivation_refri_18\" target=\"_blank\">Ivation Wine Cooler<\/a><\/strong> &ndash;<em> Energy-efficient wine cooler for 18 bottles with Wi-fi smart app control cooling system.<\/em><br><strong><strong>  &gt; <\/strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/gusto_nostro_wine_rack\" target=\"_blank\">Wine Rack<\/a><\/strong> &ndash; <em>Beautiful, elegant wood rack for up to 7 bottles <em>and the choice of vertical or horizontal storage<\/em>.<\/em><br><strong>  &gt; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/durand_opener_vintage\" target=\"_blank\">Durand Wine Opener<\/a><\/strong> &ndash; <em>Classic vintage wine opener (we like all these classic staff<\/em>).<br><strong>  &gt; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/Iceberg_decanter_aerat\" target=\"_blank\">YouYah Iceberg Wine Decanter<\/a><\/strong> &ndash; <em>The most beautiful and handy wine decanter we personally use.<\/em><br><strong>  &gt;<\/strong> <strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/bormioli_rocco_glasses\" target=\"_blank\">Bormioli Rocco Wine Glasses<\/a><\/strong> &ndash; <em>A set of eight elegant and traditional wine glasses made in Italy.<\/em><br><strong>  &gt; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/vintorio_aerator\" target=\"_blank\">Vintorio Wine Aerator<\/a><\/strong> &ndash; <em>Simple but really useful wine aerator for a reasonable price.<\/em><br><strong>  &gt; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/vacu_vin_wine\" target=\"_blank\">The Original Vacu Vin Wine Saver<\/a><\/strong> &ndash; <em>The best wine saver on the market in a package with two vacuum stoppers and two wine servers.<\/em><br><br><em>And if you want to become a true connoisseur of wine, we recommend reading the book <strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/wine_folly_book\" target=\"_blank\">Wine Folly: The Essential Guide to Wine<\/a><\/strong> (Amazon link), where you will find all the information you need about winemaking, wine varieties, flavors, and much more.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>Dangers to Red Wine Longevity<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>Light<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Prolonged light exposure can damage your red wine by prematurely aging it and also potentially chemically altering the compounds of your wine. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Ideally, for long-term storage, you will want to keep your wine bottles in complete darkness to eliminate the threat of light damage to your wine. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Furthermore, light exposure over time can fade your wine bottle label which will diminish the aesthetics of the whole experience. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A little light exposure for brief periods is completely fine but long-term storage should be in darkness for best results.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>Vibrations<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Wine does best when stored in a 100% calm environment where it can age in complete tranquility. This means you will want to find a way to store your red wine in a place that won&rsquo;t be subject to constant vibrations. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This is a reason I recommend not storing wine in or near household appliances. For example, storing wine in or on top of a kitchen fridge can do a number on your wine.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Believe it or not, your kitchen&rsquo;s refrigerator produces constant micro-vibrations, that in time, will significantly affect the integrity and robustness of your red wine. Keep your wine bottles away from kitchen appliances if you want to store wine for longer than a few days.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>Temperature<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/champagne-3515140_960_720_900x-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/champagne-3515140_960_720_900x-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/champagne-3515140_960_720_900x-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/champagne-3515140_960_720_900x.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 40px), 720px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/champagne-3515140_960_720_900x-300x200.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/champagne-3515140_960_720_900x-300x200.jpg.webp 300w, https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/champagne-3515140_960_720_900x-768x512.jpg.webp 768w, https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/champagne-3515140_960_720_900x.jpg.webp 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 40px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/champagne-3515140_960_720_900x.jpg\" id=\"mv-trellis-img-3\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Temperature is the factor most people seem concerned about regarding long-term wine storage. Temperature can wreak havoc on wine and cause it to prematurely age or alter its integrity and notes in time. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I know a lot of people are concerned with storing red wine at too cold of temperatures and they have a valid concern.&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Storing unopened red wine in temperatures too cool will over time degrade the quality of the wine. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That said, I feel like the true enemy when it comes to temperature is heat. <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Heat causes more damage to wine than cold. An ideal temperature to store unopened red wine at is about 55&deg; F. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Much above or below that number can cause you issues. Scientific studies by P&eacute;rez-Coello &amp; colleagues (2003) and by Scrimgeour &amp; colleagues (2015) both confirm that elevated storing temperatures can negatively affect the wine.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>Oxidation<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Oxidation is the big issue that seems to get far less coverage than it deserves. Oxidation, in my opinion, can alter a wine quicker and more noticeably than any other factor. Oxidation occurs when oxygen molecules are allowed to pass through the cork and into the wine. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The bottle should remain airtight and the influx of oxygen can cause the chemical makeup and purity of your red wine to change. <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It all comes down to cork protection.&nbsp;You want the inside of your cork to remain in direct contact with the wine and the outside part of the cork to not dry out. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Laying your <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/can-you-drink-wine-with-a-cork-in-it\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>wine bottle on its side will keep the wine in direct contact with the cork<\/strong><\/a> which keeps it moist. Controlling humidity is equally important. If stored in too dry conditions, the part of the cork exposed to air can dry up and crack which can allow oxygen to enter. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If it is too humid, the cork may warp or even mold which causes its own set of problems for your wine. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Speaking of oxidation to wine, I found a 2010 report by Kilmartin on the effects of non-enzymatic oxidation very informative. It speaks of how oxidative stress in wine is bad and the importance of controlling it.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>Is it OK to Refrigerate Red Wine?<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>For short-term storage (1-4 days), it is okay to store red wine in the refrigerator but for extended storage, a kitchen refrigerator is too cold and produced micro-vibrations which can significantly damage the integrity of red wine. <\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I would strongly advise against storing red wine in your refrigerator if you are serious about wine quality. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The ideal storage temperature for red wine is about 55&deg; F but the normal temperature inside a kitchen refrigerator is around 35-40&deg; F. This means refrigerators are too cold for long-term storage of red wines.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Prolonged exposure to these cooler temperatures can cause your wine to degrade over time. Perhaps an even bigger issue with a kitchen refrigerator is the micro-vibrations your fridge will emit in normal functional use. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You will never be able to feel them yourself but your fridge is releasing tiny vibrations that can stir up and damage your wine if stored inside for an extended time. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Cheap table reds you can buy for under $20 are probably fine to store in a refrigerator a few days because they are already fairly cheap quality. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That said, I&rsquo;d recommend you take them out of the refrigerator about an hour before serving them because it will be way too cold to serve.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>TIP:<\/strong> <em>Red wine is an excellent type of wine for collecting as well as keeping on hand for both cooking and drinking. Find out more about storing opened and unopened red wine in <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/store-red-wine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this article<\/a><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>How to Tell if Wine Has Gone Bad<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I feel like red wine is easier to tell if it has turned than whites are. Sometimes, you may not even notice a difference at all if red wine has turned but that is rare. The best way to determine if red wine has gone bad is by the smell, look, and taste of the wine.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> If you notice a slight off-putting or tangy odor, that could be an indication. Most reds have rich rounded red coloration but if you notice a browner tint to it, that can be a strong indication the wine has turned.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Also, go by the flavor of the wine. If it just doesn&rsquo;t right or good, toss it. A red wine that has gone bad, you will be able to taste it. Take note of any tangy, bitter, or subtle off-putting flavors. If you notice any of the above symptoms, it is a good idea to just toss the wine out and not drink it.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><b>Storing Opened Bottles of Red Wine<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This may come off as a bit controversial but I feel the best way to store opened red wine is actually in your kitchen&rsquo;s refrigerator. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Sure you can probably leave your red wine with a wine stopper out in your kitchen for a few days but I think you&rsquo;ll be better off with the wine in the fridge. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For one, your fridge is nice and dark which is important for long-term storage but also aids with short-term storage of opened wine.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The biggest thing though is temperature. You shouldn&rsquo;t store red wine in your refrigerator because it is too cold but after it has been opened, the oxidation process will quickly ruin your wine. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">By placing the wine in the cold fridge, oxidation will be greatly slowed down. You may be able to store your red wine after the cork is popped for a few extra days by doing so in the refrigerator.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>TIP:<\/strong> <em>Mixing red and white wine will not always produce a great-tasting combination. If you mix sweet with dry wine, the taste could be revolting.&nbsp; Find out more about mixing red and white wine in <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/can-you-mix-red-and-white-wine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this article<\/a><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Scientific Literature Referenced:<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Kilmartin,&nbsp;P. (2010). Understanding and controlling non-enzymatic wine oxidation. <em>Managing Wine Quality<\/em>, 432-458. DOI:10.1533\/9781845699987.2.432 (via: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/B9781845697983500152\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ScienceDirect<\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"cpformat\" id=\"a1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">P&eacute;rez-Coello,&nbsp;M., Gonz&aacute;lez-Vi&ntilde;as,&nbsp;M., Garc&#305;&#769;a-Romero,&nbsp;E., D&#305;&#769;az-Maroto,&nbsp;M., &amp; Cabezudo,&nbsp;M. (2003). Influence of storage temperature on the volatile compounds of young white wines. <em>Food Control<\/em>, <em>14<\/em>(5), 301-306. doi:10.1016\/s0956-7135(02)00094-4 (via: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0956713502000944\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ScienceDirect<\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"cpformat\" id=\"a2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Scrimgeour,&nbsp;N., Nordestgaard,&nbsp;S., Lloyd,&nbsp;N., &amp; Wilkes,&nbsp;E. (2015). Exploring the effect of elevated storage temperature on wine composition. <em>Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research<\/em>, <em>21<\/em>, 713-722. DOI:10.1111\/ajgw.12196 (via <a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1111\/ajgw.12196\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wiley<\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebf5f5\"><strong>TIP:<\/strong> <em>Check out this page for a complete list of wine products and accessories I love. You&rsquo;ll find my recommendations for wine refrigerators, decanters, and aerators and the best place to buy wine online. <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/recommended-wine-products\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Click here to see the complete listing<\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Knowing how to properly store unopened red wine can help you better manage your wine and provide a much richer experience when you finally pop the cork. Storing red wine right can prevent damage, enhance the notes and complexity of your wine, and help it age gracefully for a much richer experience. Proper red wine &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":32,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable-in-feed":false,"article-schema-type":"","disable-critical-css":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2306,"href":"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30\/revisions\/2306"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pinotsquirrel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}