Can I take your wine temperature?

Living the good life
By Jim Bogaty owner Veramar Vineyard



Can I take your wine temperature?
Wine-white cool and red warm, what is to hot and to cold for wines?

The best temperature for serving wine varies based on the type of wine. In general, we in the good old US of A tend to drink our white wines too cold and our red wines too warm. The basic rule of thumb for any wine drinker to know is that your Red Wine is served at room temperature and your White Wine is served chilled. As long as you have that down, you will not have your bottle of Cabernet Franc in the refrigerator, chilling, and waiting for your dinner guests to arrive.

Why. An extreme temperature of too hot or too cold diminishes what we will taste in wine. Too cold and the wine will lose aroma and flavor. The wine may also seem more bitter and acidic than it should. Too warm and the wine may become flabby, flat, dull, and lifeless. Red wines are often served too warm; making them seem more alcoholic than they are and some folks tell me it gives them a headache. Therefore, it is prudent to serve wine at the right temperature.

Most people have heard that red wines should be served at 'room' temperature, but that is really a reference to 'cellar' room temperature. Cellar room temperature is usually about 55-60 degrees, which is perfect for storing wine. The reason that red wines are best enjoyed at slightly reduced temperatures is that alcohol will produce an unpleasant bite on the palate when served at normal room temperature or hotter.

The following is a brief list of the temperatures Veramar Vineyard recommends to properly serve various types of wine, both specifically and generally

66°

Vintage Port
64°

Bordeaux, Shiraz,
Merritage, Merlot,
Veramar Rooster Red
63°

Red Burgundy, Cabernet,
Veramar Norton,
Veramar Cabernet Franc
61°

Rioja, Pinot Noir
59°

Chianti, Zinfandel
57°

Tawny/NV Port, Madeira


54°

Beaujolais, rose
52°

Viognier, Sauternes,
Veramar Seyval Blanc
50°

-
48°

Chardonnay
Veramar Chardonnay
47°

Riesling,
Veramar Tres Blanc
45°

Champagne
43°

Ice Wines,
Veramar D’Ora
41°

Asti Spumanti




Cheers from Veramar Vineyard
Jim Bogaty