Wine Cooler Temperature

[nutsngum]

I picked up a simple 16 bottle wine cooler. It only has one compartment with one temperature setting. If I have both red and white, what's the best temperature to maintain the wine?

[Bill Hunt]

As has been mentioned, what do you plan for your reds?

Personally, in such a storage unit, I would set it for the whites (the comment on 55F is a good one, IMHO), and let the reds relax. Just take them out, an hour before serving, and all will be good.

I keep my 6K+cellar at 55-56F, and serve my whites from it. For some domestic whites, I might give them a bit of a "hit" in the 'fridge - the "wine 'fridge," but for my bigger FR whites, never.

Enjoy,

Hunt

[Dan G]

These types of coolers aren't really meant for long-term storage, but for chilling wine. Yes, they can keep wines from hitting extremes if you don't have a/c but really meant as a place to keep wines you are drinking, not keeping. If you are keeping both reds and whites in it, pick a temperature in the low 50s, and before drinking take reds out to warm and if you want whiltes colder, pop them in the fridge.

[drumwine]

55 degrees would be standard.

[ChefJune]

Perhaps that is "standard," but it's quite warm for white wines. And if you have any really "special" wines you want to keep for an indefinite period, the recommendation is 50 degrees.

[nutsngum]

Does keeping the wine at a colder temperature affect the red at all?

[Maximilien]

You do not keep bottles for an indefinite period of time in a 16 bottle cooler when you will open/close the door frequently.

Me think that you keep the temperature "good" enough for short term period, and if you want a white wine colder, just pop it in the ice bucket for a few minutes and all will be dandy.

M.

[dinwiddie]

Actually, I prefer my whites at about 55, colder than that and they lose something.