If you've ever wondered how to keep wine cool during storage or while serving, you're not alone. Temperature plays a vital role in preserving a wine’s flavour, aroma, and overall drinking experience. This is especially true for white, rosé, sparkling wines and Champagne, which quickly lose their crispness if they become too warm. Whether entertaining guests, dining al fresco, or enjoying a quiet evening in, choosing the correct cooling method ensures every glass is served at its best.
How to Keep Wine Cool: Before Serving
Proper storage is the first step in keeping wine at the ideal temperature. Whether you're storing red, white, or sparkling wine, consistency is key to preserving its character.
Use a Wine Cabinet or Wine Fridge
A dedicated wine cabinet or fridge is ideal for maintaining wine in optimal conditions. These appliances offer precise control over both temperature and humidity, unlike standard kitchen fridges, which can be too cold and dry.
Recommended Storage Temperatures:
- Red Wine: 13˚C – 17˚C
- White Wine: 8˚C – 12˚C
- Champagne & Dessert Wines: 5˚C – 8˚C
Storing wine within these temperature ranges helps preserve flavour, structure and aroma. Wine refrigerators can range in size and style, whether freestanding or undercounter.
How to Keep Wine Cool: Whilst Serving
Once a bottle is opened and on the table, maintaining its temperature is vital, particularly for white, rosé and sparkling wines. Here are some popular and effective methods, all available from Wineware:
Wine Cooler Bucket (Ice Bucket)
A classic and effective solution, often seen in restaurants and at home. Wine cooler buckets, usually made from metal, plastic or glass, hold a bottle submerged in a mix of ice and cold water, keeping it perfectly chilled throughout your meal.
How to use:
- Place your wine bottle in the centre of the bucket.
- Fill with ice, surrounding the bottle.
- Add cold water to help conduct the chill.
- Keep the bottle in the bucket between servings.
Chills wine in 10–15 minutes and maintains temperature during service.
This modern and convenient option is perfect for quick chilling. A wine cooler sleeve is stored in the freezer and slips over the bottle to cool it within minutes, ideal if guests arrive unexpectedly or you’ve forgotten to chill your wine in advance.
How to use:
- Store the sleeve in the freezer for at least 4 hours.
- Slip the chilled sleeve over the wine bottle.
- Wait 5 minutes before serving.
Keeps wine cool for up to 2 hours, no ice or water needed.
A compact, multi-functional tool for chilling, preserving, and pouring wine, the ChillCore features a stainless-steel cooling rod filled with gel and an integrated pouring spout that cools wine from the inside out.
How to use:
- Freeze the ChillCore for a minimum of 4 hours.
- Pour out around 2 inches of wine to prevent overflow.
- Attach the cooling rod to the spout.
- Insert the ChillCore into the bottle and serve.
Cools a bottle in 15 minutes and keeps it chilled for up to 1 hour.
Ideal Wine Serving Temperatures
Serving wine at the right temperature enhances its taste, texture, and aroma. Here’s a helpful guide:
| Wine Type | Ideal Serving Temperature |
| Red Wine | 14˚C – 18˚C |
| White Wine | 7˚C – 11˚C |
| Champagne & Dessert Wine | 5˚C – 7˚C |
Use a wine thermometer to check the serving temperature for best results.
Explore Wine Cooling Accessories
Wineware offers a wide range of wine cooling solutions, from traditional buckets to cutting-edge chillers, to suit every occasion and style.
Browse our Wine Coolers for more information and inspiration!
