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To chill or not to chillIt’s a question that wine enthusiasts can’t seem to stop asking: Do you refrigerate wine before opening it? Or do you put it in the fridge after that? Or perhaps both? 

We’ll cover how to store wine before and after opening the bottle, the best wine temperature for different wines, and what to do when you need to chill your wine quickly. 

To Chill or Not to Chill

Do You Refrigerate Wine?

The question, "Do you refrigerate wine?" has no single answer. The more accurate answer is yes, but the "when" and "how" vary depending on the type of wine. Because of their different chemical compositions, all wines recommend slightly different temperatures.

White wines, for example, are distinguished by their crispness and acidity, whereas red wines are distinguished by their tannins. Meanwhile, sparkling wine contains carbonation, dessert wine contains more residual sugar, and fortified wines contain more alcohol. These variables influence when and how you chill your wine. 

How to Store Your Wine

Whatever type of wine you have, proper wine storage is essential for preserving its quality. It makes no difference what temperature you serve your wine at if it goes bad before you even open it. 

Keep your wine bottles, from white to red to rosé and beyond, in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight. This will extend the shelf life and slow the deterioration process.

While having a wine cellar would be ideal, it is not something that most people can afford. You can, fortunately, make do with what you have. Consider placing a wine rack in a location that is away from heat and light and cooler than room temperature.

It's especially important to keep wine bottles with natural cork seals on their sides in a cool, dry place. This helps to keep the cork moist, preventing it from drying out and shrinking, which allows bacteria to enter and cause cork taint.

How to Chill Your Wine

A wine refrigerator, like a wine cellar, would be an ideal storage solution. There's no need to buy a wine refrigerator unless you have a sizable collection of wine bottles or the budget and space for one. 

These appliances, also known as a wine fridge, wine chiller, or wine cooler, can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Instead, you can easily use your kitchen refrigerator to store a few wine bottles.

White wine, rosé wine, and sparkling wine are best when served between 50-60 degrees, which brings our rich flavor notes. Bubbly bottles such as Champagne, Prosecco, and sparkling rosés should always be chilled to 40-50 degrees to keep the carbon dioxide intact and prevent the bottle from unexpectedly popping open. 

Wine at Metro Wines

While refrigerating wine ahead of time is ideal, it's not the solution if you're short on time. There are some simple and quick cool-down ways without sacrificing taste, ranging from salty ice baths to frozen grapes, and even the freezer. 

Before you're ready to open a bottle of wine, consider visiting Metro Wines. We have a large variety of specialty wines in the shop, ranging in prices, and our staff is readily available to answer any questions you may have. Contact us today or visit our website to browse our wine collection.