While it may seem a trivial thing,
serving wine correctly can add class to any occasion from a casual get-together
with friends to a more formal wine and dinner party. Here are some things
you should know about preparing, serving and pouring wine, and types
of wine glasses suitable for the wines served.
Wine Serving Temperatures
The temperature at which a wine is served has an immense impact on
its taste. Serving wine cool will mask some imperfections—good
for young or cheap wine—while a warmer wine temperature allows
expression of the wine's characteristics—best with an older or
more expensive wine.
| Wine
Type |
°F |
°C |
| Full Bodied Red Wine
- Cab Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz |
59-68 |
15-20 |
| Light Bodied Red Wine
- Beaujolais, Pinot Noir, Red Burgundy |
54-59 |
12-15 |
| Dry Wine Wines - Chardonnay,
Burgundy, Sauvignon |
50-54 |
10-12 |
| Light Sweet Wine -
Dessert wines, Champagne and other sparkling wines |
41-50 |
5-10 |
A bottle of wine will cool 2 °C
(4 °F) for every ten minutes in the refrigerator, and will warm
at about this same rate when removed from the refrigerator and left
at room temperature—the temperature of the room will affect the
speed with which the wine warms up. If you need to chill a bottle of
wine in a hurry, 35 minutes in the freezer will do the trick.
