You’ve picked a date, created the guest list, planned your menu, and your coveted wines have just arrived from CellarDoor.co. It’s been no easy feat, but your dinner party is planned better than Marie Kondos’ sock drawer, and all that is left to do is cook and proudly serve your curated wines. Here lies the conundrum. What temperature should you serve them at? And, why should you give a hoot about serving temperatures anyway?
You know that WineDown likes to call a spade a spade, and the truth is that if you are serving your wine at the wrong temperature, you are likely missing a very good thing. Don’t let that old adage about serving white wine chilled and red wine at room temperature; lead you astray. It certainly doesn’t hold your drinking pleasure in good stead. In fact, chilling a wine too much could take the ambrosial scents and flavours of your prized Chardonnay and plunge them deep into the depths of overpowering acidity. What a travesty that would be!
OK, how should you be serving your wine…
Like most things, you will likely get a different answer depending on whom you ask. Because we are all about style here at WineDown, our serving temperatures are based upon wine style and will help you enjoy your wines in all their magnificence.
Sweet wines: Rosé (sweet) and Dessert wine
Temperature Range: 6-8 degrees Celsius | Time in fridge: 1 ½ hours
Sparkling wines: Sparkling and Champagne
Temperature Range: 6-10 degrees Celsius | Time in fridge: up to 2 hours
Light body whites: Rosé (dry), Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio, Soave, Fiano and Riesling
Temperature Range: 7-10 degrees Celsius | Time in fridge: 1 ½ hours
Medium body whites: Semillon, Sauternes and Sauvignon Blanc
Temperature Range: 7-10 degrees Celsius | Time in fridge: 1 ½ hours
Full body whites: Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne and Chardonnay
Temperature Range: 10-13 degrees Celsius | Time in fridge: 1 hours
Light body reds: Pinot Noir, Chianti and Gamay Noir
Temperature Range: 13-15 degrees Celsius | Time in fridge: 45-60 minutes
Medium body reds: Sangiovese, Grenache, Cabernet Franc and Merlot
Temperature Range: 15-18 degrees Celsius (the infamous room temperature) | Time in fridge: 45-60 minutes
Full body reds: Bordeaux, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz
Temperature Range: 18-20 degrees Celsius | Time in fridge: 25 minutes
It’s good to note that the temperatures outlined above are well below the ambient temperature of most Australian homes in summer. Unless, of course, you have air conditioning. This adds to the validity that serving at room temperature may not be the best course of action.
Danger! Serving above the ideal temperature may turn your beloved wine (especially reds) volatile, causing its alcohol concentration to increase, hence losing its finesse and aromatics. At the other end of the scale, you can expect wines served below their ideal temperature to have harsher tannins, bitterness, and increased acidity.
Goldilocks much?! We know.
Perhaps one of the easiest ways to keep on top of serving temperatures, particularly for red wine, is a climate-controlled wine cabinet. Not only do they store your wine under perfect conditions, but they’re certainly handy for when you want to grab a bottle on the go. We hear Christmas is just around the corner…
Now you know what temperature you should be serving your wine at. But how on earth do you gauge the temperature? You could get innovative like WineDown, who once used their child’s rubber ducky bath thermometer, or you could purchase a wine thermometer. Various options are available, including infrared, bottle bracelets and even ones with reference markers for common varietals. But then you wouldn’t need our guide!
Why you should be using your decanter more often than you do.
As with any good ritual, you’ll require some tools to support a successful outcome.