Wine Serving Temperatures

wine serving temperature

Above 65°F, a red wine imparts too much of its alcohol content as flavor, never a desirable taste. It’s more convenient to allow a wine to warm up in its glass than to put it back in the refrigerator or ice bucket. One easy way to warm up a glass of wine is to cup your hands around the glass while you swirl.

A common misconception is that red wine should be served at “room temperature”. This makes no sense since depending upon geography and season, your room may be much warmer or colder than my room. You do not want to serve your red wine at a temperature higher than 60-65°F, depending upon the type of red wine. You will want to serve Beajoulais, a light, fruity red at the lowest temperature (approximately 55°F), your medium bodied reds such as Chiante, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel at a slightly higher temperature (approximately 60°F), and your full bodied reds such as Bordeaux, Cabernet, Merlot, and Shiraz a hint warmer (approximately 63-65°F). To reach the proper wine serving temperature, it is best to have the correct type of home storage unit so your wines are kept at a constant 55-60°F. However, if your red wine has been stored at room temperature, you’ll want to either put it in the refrigerator or into an ice bucket for 30-60 minutes before serving. Be sure to include water with the ice – it will chill more quickly.

White Wine Serving Temperature

For white wines, the opposite may be true. It’s better to serve a white wine too warm than too cold. White wines served too cold (under 45°F) lose many of their flavors and aromas. However, you still want to serve your white wines colder than your red wines. Serving white wines at a lower temperature brings out their natural fruity, fresh, and sweet characteristics. You will want to serve your white wines at 45-55°F, depending upon the wine and your personal preference. A Reisling will be better a bit colder than a Pinot Gris or a Chardonnay. Since most home refrigerators are kept at between 35-40°F, it’s best not to serve your white wines right out of the refrigerator. Removing your white wine from the refrigerator 30-60 minutes before serving should bring them to about the right temperature. And, you can always warm the wine up by cupping your hands around the glass as you swirl. If your white wine has been kept at room temperature, place it in the refrigerator or ice bucket for 30-60 minutes before serving.