There are things that require the right conditions for you to be able to really enjoy them. This is especially true for red wine and white wine.
Storage conditions and serving temperature are two of the most crucial factors that you should consider when storing bottles of wine. Why are these important?
What is the significance of the serving temperature of wine?
The correct serving temperature will ensure that you will be able to unlock the full flavor and aroma of the wine you are about to consume. Storing and serving wine with the right temperature will also ensure the release of the aromatics without changing or worse, ruining the taste of your favorite reds or whites. In a gist, serving a wine that’s too cold or too hot means you won’t get to fully enjoy its taste.
It’s also important to keep in mind that each type of wine has its own ideal serving temperature.
Three general rules to follow:
- White wine and rose wine must be served cold – 45 to 55°F (both local and international wines) . To achieve the right temperature for these types of drinks, you need to place the bottle of wine to your fridge immediately after buying it. You can also leave it in the freezer for about 30 minutes if you’re going to drink it within the day.
After pouring everyone’s glasses with white or rose wine, it’s best to leave the bottle on the table and not on the ice. This allows the wine’s aromas and characteristics to improve.
- Red wine should be served cold – 55 to 65°F (both local and international wines)
Serving reds at room temperature has been the more popular belief. On the contrary, it’s best to serve Merlot, Pinot Noir, or Cabernet COLD to best enjoy its taste. Pop your bottle of red into the freezer for 15 minutes to get the best experience. Also, just let the opened bottle of wine sit in room temperature and slowly warm up the wine.
- Sparkling wine needs to be served ice cold – 40 to 45°F
Ensure the best taste for your sparkling wine by storing it in your freezer for an hour before you drink it. This will keep the bubbles fine. After pouring in onto everyone’s glasses, place the bottle on ice to enjoy it up to its last drop.
What other serving tips do we recommend?
Aside from sudden or extreme fluctuations in temperature, there are other important considerations you need to make when serving or storing wines.
- The glass you use is as important as the serving temperature.
When Georg Riedel first introduced Vinum, a line of glasses for different types of wines, it caused a lot of confusion. People didn’t like his idea. But after hosting his first ever wine glass tasting, even novice wine connoisseurs were able to tell the difference. Ten years later, Riedel was awarded Decanter Man of the Year.
- Master the art of opening a bottle of wine.
If you think opening a wine bottle is as easy as uncorking it, then you are wrong. Before you insert a corkscrew into a cork, make sure that you probably cut the foil starting at the bottom lip. Aside from that, pork the cork slightly off its center to avoid tearing the cork.
- Enhance the taste of the wine by using the right decanter.
It’s a fact that almost all red wines taste better when placed in the right decanter.
The wine is exposed to oxygen better by decanting. This improves the Merlot or Chardonnay’s taste simply by softening its astringent tannins while releasing the fruity and floral smells. The proper way of decanting is to pour wine into a wine decanter and leave it in room temperature for 30 to 45 minutes. You can also use a wine aerator to decant wine almost in an instant.
