Should red wine be served at room temperature? Should white wines and rose wines be served at refrigerator temperature? What happens if the wine temperature is too high? What happens if the wine temperature is too low? Should red wine be served at room temperature? What is proper cellar temperature and how does it relate to serving temperature? How does ambient temperature affect wine in a glass? What methods can I use to chill wine to the proper zone? What methods can I use to warm wine to the proper zone? Is there a correct temperature for every wine? How close do I hold the thermometer to the wine? Should I measure the wine itself, the bottle, or the glass? How do I change between Fahrenheit and Celsius? When and how do I replace the batteries? What happens if I get my thermometer wet? Do infrared thermometers measure wine temperature inside a bottle?

Should red wine be served at room temperature?

Most of the time, no. The term “room temperature” dates back hundreds of years in Europe, well before central heat. Average room temperatures were much lower compared to today’s average 72 °F. All wines lose their appeal above 68 °F. These days, red wine should almost always be chilled ten degrees or so. Refer to our Wine Temperature Chart for precise recommendations.

Should white wines and rose wines be served at refrigerator temperature?

No. Refrigerator temperature is usually 35 - 40 °F. These temperatures will completely imprison the wine’s aroma and flavor. Whites and roses should be served approximately ten degrees warmer than refrigerator temperature. Refer to our Wine Temperature Chart for precise recommendations.

What happens if the wine temperature is too high?

The higher the temperature, the faster the volatile compounds evaporate from wine in a glass. When red wine is served above 68 °F the alcohol can begin to evaporate so quickly that it unbalances the wine. This same effect happens with whites at about 58 °F. The palate is increasingly sensitive to sweetness the higher the temperature. Most sweet wines have low acidity in relation to their sweetness. When served too warm they taste cloyingly sweet. Chilling sweet wines tempers the sweetness while showcasing the acidity for balance. With sparkling wines, the higher the temperature, the faster carbon dioxide is released. This not only creates overly frothy wines after opening, but they become flat very quickly.

What happens if the wine temperature is too low?

Quite simply, wine served too cold causes an imprisonment of important aromas derived from the grape. Whites and reds served too cool can taste rather dead, withholding their prominence. In the case of reds, tannins will taste rough and bitter. Serving reds warmer will soften those rough tannins.

What is proper cellar temperature and how does it relate to serving temperature?

Fortunately, ideal cellar temperature, 55 °F, is also preferred for serving a wide range of wines such as high quality, full-bodied dry white wines and light-bodied red wines, and is not so low that it takes long to warm full-bodied red wines to a suitable serving temperature.

How does ambient temperature affect wine in a glass?

Drinking climate is almost always warmer than recommended serving temperatures. Wine will always be moving toward ambient temperature usually at a rate of 4-5 °F per hour. Of course when a wine is poured into a glass, the glass will transfer heat into the wine. This causes an instant increase in wine temperature of at least 2 °F. This should be factored into every uncorking. Also, be aware of how you are holding the glass and whether your hand is warming the wine. Stems are very important to use so that heat from your hand isn’t transferred into the wine. Hand temperatures are usually about 94 °F so wine can be heated very quickly if the bowl of the glass is held, especially because the heat transfer is by conduction.

What methods can I use to chill wine to the proper zone?

Below are three useful techniques. Refrigerator: Chilling wine in a refrigerator is quite slow. The heat retained in the wine bottle will slowly transfer into the air by convection. Chiling the wine inside a bottle from 72 °F to 50 °F will take approximately two hours. If planned in advance, using a timer, this method works well. Freezer: Like the refrigerator, the heat transfer is accomplished through convection. However the delta between wine bottle temperature and the freezer air will cause the transfer to be quicker. Usually, the time to take the wine inside the bottle from 72 °F to 50 °F will be approximately 30 minutes. Using a timer is extremely important because if the bottle is left in the freezer it will automatically uncork, leaving wine all over your freezer. Ice water: This is the fastest method to chill wine because the heat transfer is through conduction, rather than convection. The water around the ice is the necessary medium for conduction. Using only ice will yield results only slightly faster than a freezer. With ice water, expect results to be faster than 1 °F per minute. So chilling the wine inside a bottle from 72 °F to 50 °F, will take no more than twenty minutes. Because the temperature is changing so rapidly, it is a good idea to set a timer, and also pour a small amount of wine in a glass to check the status midway through.

What methods can I use to warm wine to the proper zone?

Below are some popular techniques for warming wine. Decanting: Whether intentional or not, decanting is an extremely quick way to warm wine without damaging it. It exposes the wine to warmer air but more importantly, heat from the decanter is transferred into the wine by conduction. In desperate cases, it is possible to heat the decanter with warm water prior to decanting. This should be practiced with moderate heat and is only recommended for emergencies. Pouring wine into glasses: As discussed earlier, wine will increase in temperature when poured into glasses that are at room temperature. This happens for the same reason that decanting warms wine. Cupping the wine glass with your hand: This is the most common unintentional way to warm wine rapidly. Most hands are about 94 °F and will transfer heat into the wine by conduction very quickly. Beware that when a wine is already at an ideal serving temperature do not touch the bowl of the glass. Use the stem. It’s there for a reason!

Is there a correct temperature for every wine?

No. Although we have compiled a database of generally observed recommendations, each individual taster knows best. The Nuvo Vino Wine Thermometer simply displays that magic temperature so that the taster can repeat the experience next time.

How close do I hold the thermometer to the wine?

For the most accurate results, hold the thermometer one inch from the surface of the wine. This ensures that the wine glass does not interfere with temperature measurement. The distance from the thermometer sensor to the surface will equal the diameter of the spot on the surface that is being measured. Be sure to hold the thermometer vertically so that the field-of-view is not interrupted by the wine glass.

Should I measure the wine itself, the bottle, or the glass?

For the most accurate results, measure the wine itself. Measuring the outside of the wine glass or bottle adds a plethora of variables, such as glass thickness, glass temperature, and the delta between wine temperature and ambient room temperature. If a bottle has been sitting in a cellar at 55 °F and is taken out and is sitting in a room of 80 °F, then the bottle will be becoming warmer faster than the wine inside the bottle. Or, if a bottle is being chilled on ice it will become cooler faster than the wine inside it. It is recommended that you pour a small amount of wine into a glass and measure the wine itself. However, if a bottle has been in a proper cellar for an extended period of time, it is possible to take the temperature of the outside of the bottle and get fairly accurate results. But once the bottle changes environments, the results cannot be trusted unless the temperature of the wine itself is taken.

How do I change between Fahrenheit and Celsius?

Activate the thermometer so that the power is on. Then use a toothpick or paper clip to poke through the hole on the pocket clip until you feel a button click. This action will toggle between Fahrenheit and Celsius.

When and how do I replace the batteries?

When the battery icon flashes in the LCD the batteries are low and need replacement. Confirm the unit is power OFF. If the display is off, the unit is off. Unscrew the activation button in a counter-clockwise direction and replace the two LR44 1.5v cell batteries with positives facing up. Also, be sure to hold the batteries on the sides so that no finger oil gets on the contact surfaces of the batteries. Then tighten activation button clockwise until snug. Do not over-tighten. Always replace both batteries at the same time. Dispose of used batteries properly and keep away from children. Also, periodically remove the activation button and clean the inside of the button with a pencil eraser. This will keep the battery contacts free of corrosion.

What happens if I get my thermometer wet?

The bad news is that there may be permanent damage because electronic devices usually don’t like to swim. The good news is that sometimes no damage will occur if dried out properly. If the thermometer is dipped into liquid, stop using the thermometer and let it dry out for at least 24 hours. Then, it is important to clean the sensor gently with a cotton swab. In some cases, the thermometer will function properly again if aired out and cleaned thoroughly. Otherwise, contact us to learn about our replacement program. Unfortunately, the warranty will be voided but we are happy to replace your thermometer at a discounted price.

Do infrared thermometers measure wine temperature inside a bottle?

No. IR thermometers measure surface temperature, not internal temperature. The Nuvo Vino Non-Contact Thermometer is a passive device that uses infrared technology to sense radiation to measure temperature. Therefore, it measures surface temperature of an object, not internal temperature. Some competing products claim to measure internal temperature. These claims are false. The most effective way to measure serving temperature is to measure the wine itself, not the bottle or glass.