There is a general consensus that white wine should be served cold and red wine at room temperature. However, the temperature you serve wine at is critical for your enjoyment. Follow our guide to ensure maximum enjoyment of your wine.
Sparkling wine
Sparkling wine is best served ice cold, straight out of the fridge. A lot of time is spent creating the finest bubbles and keeping the wine ice cold will help to preserve them. After opening, keep the bottle in an ice bucket or the fridge until it’s finished.
White wine and Rosé
Whilst white wine and rosé are often stored in the fridge before serving, this usually means they become too cold for immediate serving. Oaked wines, such as our Chardonnay and Mélange Traditionnel Blanc, are better served slightly warmer to allow for the aromatics, textures and flavours to fully unfurl. These will be supressed if the wine is too cold and you might find the acidity becomes overbearing.
We recommend a serving temperature between 8-12°C – take your white wine or rosé out of the fridge an hour before serving to allow it adequate time to warm up. It will be at the perfect drinking temperature as you enjoy it.
If you need to chill your wine before serving, we recommend 2-3 hours in the fridge.
Red wine
Lighter reds, such as Pinot Noir are best served between 14-16°C, while heavier reds, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, are best served slightly warmer, between 16-18°C. If it is served above that, the wine will lose its finesse, the tannins will be harsher, and it will simply taste and smell of alcohol.
If you store your wine in temperature-controlled storage, it will only need about 15 minutes to come to perfect drinking temperature. If you think that your red wine is a little warm, don’t be afraid to put it in the fridge for 20-30 minutes before serving. If in doubt, always serve your reds a little cooler as they will warm up in the glass.
Don’t forget, you may also need to decant your wine, depending on its age and varietal. Read more with our guide to decanting wine here.
