How to Serve Wine

The temperature in which a wine is served has a tremendous impact on its taste. If you serve it at a temperature that is too hot or too cold it could have a negative impact on the taste and quality.  The temperature you need to serve wine at varies based on the type of wine you’re serving. The general rule is that red wine should be served at room temperature and white wine should be served chilled. However, this may vary since room temperature varies depending on one’s location, altitude, and the seasonal weather. Also, some refrigerators may be set differently and therefore vary slightly in temperature.

For the best results, the following types of wine should be served accordingly:

• Sparkling wine should be served at 48 degrees Fahrenheit.
• White wine should be served at 53 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Red wine should be served at 62 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Rose wine should be served at 51 degrees Fahrenheit.

In order to preserve wine, it should be stored properly. Wine should be stored in a cool place away from sunlight. Wine should be stored on its side in order to keep the cork air tight and moist. It should be stored in either a wine cellar or a refrigerator. You can store an opened bottle of wine for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. However, once you take it out of the refrigerator, you need to leave the wine out long enough to allow the wine to reach its optimal temperature. As a general rule, wine warms up 4 degrees every 10 minutes. If you know the temperature of your refrigerator, it will be easier for you to calculate how long you need to leave it out before serving it.

Serving Wine and Wine Glasses

When you serve wine, it should be done in a glass that is transparent so you can have the opportunity to appreciate its color. It should be served in either a regular wine glass or one made of crystal. Regular everyday glasses are not appropriate because you need a stem on the glass in order to hold the glass without warming it with your hands. Some people like to use different shaped wine glasses for different types of wine. Red wine glasses are wider than other types and they have a large bowl. The reason red wine glasses are wider is because red wine needs to be swirled around to come into contact with air. The wider area helps with this. White wine glasses are smaller than red wine glasses and are tulip shaped. The smaller area prevents it from warming up too fast. Sparkling wine glasses are tall, thin and flute shaped. This keeps it cooler and allows for the formation of bubbles.