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What happens if wine is stored too cold?

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If you live in a colder climate, you may be wondering how the cold affects your wine.

The good news is that cool temperatures are not nearly as dangerous to wine as heat. As long as the wine is gradually cooled and does not experience a sharp drop in temperature, the cold will not affect the aging process. One thing to remember, however, is that when subject to the cold, the wine will expand and put pressure on both the cork and the bottle. Additionally, wine will crystalize and freeze between 15-20◦F. This may cause the bottle to crack or the cork to pop, both of which will cause oxidization. If your wine has been subject to the cold, check for a sticky cork or any wine stains beneath the capsule (the protective wrap around the neck and cork of the bottle). These clues will tell you if there has been any leakage.

The best way to prevent your wine from freezing is to store it inside an insulated and sealed space that has temperature and humidity control. Vinotemp has many storage solutions that can prevent your wine from freezing. These include: 

• If you have a wine cellar or wine cabinet, install a Wine-Mate Cellar Cooling System to ensure your wine is stored at the correct temperature.

• Use a temperature and humidity monitoring kit inside your wine cellar. These kits will alert you if your wine has been subject to extreme cold or heat.

• Use a wine refrigerator to store your wine collection. Wine refrigerators are designated appliances that will keep your wine safe and in the proper conditions.

• Consider a wine cabinet. Similar to a wine refrigerator, a wine cabinet will keep your wine in the right environment with the added bonus of being able to customize certain features.

If you do not have a designated storage area, select an insulated room in your home that does not drop below 45◦F during the winter. The garage is not ideal as many garages are subject to big temperature fluctuations. You can put wine in your kitchen refrigerator, but do not leave it inside for longer than a day or two as the food refrigerator is not ideal for wine.

Are you concerned about your wine being subjected to cold conditions? Feel free to contact us at sales@vinotemp.com and we will help you find the proper storage solution for your collection.
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