Wine is a perishable good. The basic enemies of wine, from a preservation standpoint, are temperature and sunlight. A typical household’s internal temperature can range between 68 degrees to 78 degrees Fahrenheit and experience frequent and sudden changes in temperature and light, especially during the changing of the seasons. A wine cooler provides a constant, ambient temperature and a dark environment shielding the wine bottle and wine from hot temperatures.
High temperatures can be very damaging to wine. Using a wine storage and wine aging temperature calculator the impact of high temperatures can be seen on wine aging. Temperature is the one variable that has the greatest impact on wine storage and wine aging. Wine aging is a series of chemical reactions that take place over time. Different temperatures levels can speed up or slow down the chemical reactions within a wine bottle. Using the wine storage and wine aging temperature calculator, below is a comparison of the aging potential of several wines assuming they were stored at 55 degrees Fahrenheit (a recommended storage temperature for all wines) or stored at 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
| Wine |
Aging Potential in Years at 55° |
Aging Potential in Years at 75° |
| Cabernet Sauvignon |
4 to 20 |
.4 to 2.1 |
| Chardonnay |
2 to 6 |
.2 to .6 |
| Merlot |
2 to 10 |
.2 to 1.1 |
| Pinot Noir |
2 to 8 |
.2 to .8 |
Published 11/8/2009 12:00:00 AM
Tags: Temperature, Wine Storage, Wine Aging