Australian winemaker Wakefield Wines has launched a new on-bottle temperature indicator to ensure its wines are served at their optimum.

The back labels of the Wakefield Estate and Promised Land ranges from the Clare Valley winery feature a sensor which uses thermo-chromatic ink technology to change colour when the wine reaches its optimum temperature.

It turns green when white or sparkling wines are ready to serve, and fuchsia for the reds.

Too often white and sparkling wines are served straight from the fridge, and therefore below the suggested 6° to 12°C range.

Red wines, on the other hand, are best served between 12° and 18°C, whereas the average central heating thermostat is set to 23°C.

Justin Taylor, a third generation member of the Taylor family which owns and runs Wakefield Wines, said: “We hope this exciting innovation sparks an interest amongst wine consumers about wine and serving temperature in the UK.

“Now there is no excuse to enjoy our wine the way the winemaker intended.”

Wakefield’s newly labelled wines carrying the temperature sensor will be available through the off trade this summer.

Their arrival on-shelf will be supported with a promotional campaign for retailers, which will include point-of-sale material for independents.

Wakefield Wines is the trading name of Taylor Wines for the northern hemisphere. It is distributed in the UK by Louis Latour Agencies.