Should Merlot Be Chilled? (Serving & Refrigeration Temperature)

by Philip Thompson
Updated on 04 July, 2024

Merlot, like all red wines, should be chilled before serving and for storing in most climates. A widely cultivated grape, it is frequently included in the classic Bordeaux red mix.

In this post, we will tell you everything you need to know about ‘should merlot be chilled’. We’ll also cover merlot serving temperature, storage temperature and how long you should store merlot.

Do You Chill Merlot?

Merlot Wine Varieties

Yes, you should chill your Merlot. The best temperature to serve Merlot is between 60–65°F or 15-18°C. While the ideal temperature to store Merlot is between 12°C and 15℃ (51–59°F).

To get the most out of your bottles of Merlot wine, don't serve them too cold.

If it's too cold, you can miss out on Merlot's gorgeous and nuanced scents.

If your Merlot wine is too warm, it will taste more alcoholic.

Merlot, a dry wine with a medium to a whole body, is best served at a temperature of 15-18°C (60-65°F).

You can fully appreciate the wine’s flavour character at this temperature without the flavours becoming jumbled.

The best way to chill merlot is using a wine fridge, and we've got an in-depth guide on how to choose one here.

If you are keeping your merlot at a temperature of around 60°F (15°C), remove the cork 30 minutes before serving to give the wine a chance to warm up just a little bit.

Before serving, an old merlot will probably need to be decanted to allow the aromas and flavours to develop and the tannins to soften.

To give the bottle some breathing room, you can open it and leave it open for 20 to 60 minutes. Splashing it into your glass beforehand and letting it sit for a while also works.

What About White Merlot – Do You Chill It?

White Merlot wine is a rosé.

Consequently, it’s also referred to as a Merlot rosé. Merlot-based rosé is popular in California and Bordeaux.

They may be fantastic. In the same way you would handle a light white wine, you should treat rosé similarly.

Serve this rose cold; reduce the temperature to 7°C.

Storage Temperature For Merlot Wine

narrow wine fridge in kitchen

Keep in mind the standard “best practices” you employ with most of your wines when storing Merlot wine bottles:

The wine room or wine fridge temperature should be between 12-15°C for storing Merlot

Store wine with a cork on its side, to prevent the cork drying out (which can break the seal)

Keep the humidity between 50-70% (ideally 60%)

Avoid exposing the wine to intense light and vibrations while it matures.

Short-Term vs Long-Term Merlot Storage

If your storing a case of wine bottles, the kitchen is the worst place to store wine, whether it is ageing quickly or slowly.

The most significant temperature swings in your home occur in the kitchen.

Avoid ageing (most) Merlots for an extended period. But every person has specific, individual wine tastes.

If you decide to age a Merlot, pick one with a lot of acidity and intense fruit flavour.

Compare Merlot vs Cabernet Sauvignon here

Should You Put Merlot In The Fridge?

After you open a bottle of wine, wine coolers can be useful appliances for keeping it fresh.

Low temperatures slow down chemical processes. Therefore, storing wine in the refrigerator will keep them fresh for a few extra days.

However, keep in mind that it will take the wine 45 – 60 minutes to reach room temperature.

Learn more about Merlot here.

How Long Should You Chill Merlot?

Storing Merlot at The Right Temperature

The length of time you should chill your Merlot depends on your fridge.

If you have a domestic refrigerator the drier conditions may damage the corks over time, so it’s best to store your Merlot elsewhere and place it in the fridge a few hours before serving to reach the required temperature.

If you have a specialist wine fridge the conditions will have been designed to look after your wine, and in this instance Merlot can go in a wine fridge for a longer period of time.