The Auswine Forum

As a wine drinker without a cellar I find myself juggling reds in and out of the fridge, to get them to drinking temperature (particularly in Adelaide at the moment.)
I'm looking to simplify this process. Has anyone used one of those infrared or collar type thermometers that they would recommend?

I don't know why some bright spark hasn't invented a label, with a built in thermometer, that lights up green when the wine is at optimal temperature.

Interesting, I would have expected that the glass would cool quicker than the liquid inside (eg put a glass water bottle in the fridge for 20 minutes, the glass feels cold but the water inside is just slightly cooled) so I'm surprised that you can reliably test the temperature externally such as with a collar?

Yeah - my thoughts exactly - seems like readings couldn't be that accurate, which is why I'm interested in other peoples experience before I commit to buying.

Talking about companys using this technology.
About 8 years ago I came across a wine called "white pointer". When you looked through the bottle, at the back of the label was a tropical ocean scene. When the wine was at drinking temperature you could see a shark. Once the wine warmed up, the shark would disappear.
My other half loved the scene/bottle and kept it. The next day she thought she had drunk to much because she was certain there was a shark in it, not aware of the "thermo" shark. It took a while to work out what was happening.

LOL Phil, classic story, only in Oz.

Have got a collar one (was a gift), not used it a lot, but when I did, I never found it to be very accurate, surprise surprise.

An instant read thermometer might be an idea, but of course bottle would have to be open.

I've recently cleared out two bottom shelves of one of my wine fridges, and it now fits upright (i.e opened) bottles and/or decanters. When it's 28C inside, and 35C outside, it's very nice to see the reds (or whites) decanting away at 14C!

Stick a wine bottle filled with water in your wine fridge. Leave it there for a couple of days.
Pull it out and stick it in the room you intend to consume it in.
Open the bottle and stick a meat thermometer in it and watch how long it takes for it to reach the desired temp.
Assuming the room is 20-22 or close either way, time how long it takes for the liquid to be at the desired consumption temp.