If one wants to store wine like Merlots or Zinfandels in the refrigerator, it should be given a day to warm up to room temperature before serving. It is a general rule that red wine should never be served chilled. It robs the wine of too much flavor.

Wine Racks

If one intends to store wine in a small wine rack one should store sparkling wines on the lowest shelf, whites above the sparkling and reds above the white. This recommendation for storing wines takes into account the fact that heat rises. Thus the wines requiring the lowest temperature will sit at the lowest temperature.

Though a wine rack or wine case can be a nice display, one shouldn�t sacrifice taste to aesthetics. The rack should not be in direct light, as this will over time cause the wine to age more quickly and lose its flavor. An alternative to the wine rack is a small glass door wine refrigerator which can better store wine than a rack exposed to the elements. It also tends to prevent molding if one plans to store wine for a long period of time. Most important in considering temperature, is that wine should not be stored at a temperature above 55�F. (12.77 C.), or under 40�F. (4.44 C.).