What types of wine are best served chilled? Which at room temp?

Answer 1

Whites and blush wines are generally served chilled, and reds are generally served at room temperature. That said, do whatever tastes best to you.

Answer 2

As most people have said, whites are generally served chilled while reds are served room-temperature. However, some flexibility is allowed here depending on your personal preferences. For example, I enjoy a crisp, acidic wine such as pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc very cold, while I'd drink a more robust white like Chardonnay just slightly chilled.

There are actually some lighter reds that can be enjoyed chilled, especially in warm weather. A Beaujolais is a good example. Other sweeter wines and garden-variety reds (like the ones that come in a box) will be better chilled. Rosés should also be served slightly chilled without many exceptions.

I would strongly recommend, however, avoiding the cooler for better-quality or more robust red wines, as the cold will prevent their flavor from blossoming in your mouth. Any decent Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, or Syrah should be kept far away from the fridge.

Answer 3

Semi-sweet red wine can only be defined by you own palette. Is it Merlot, Cab, Syrah or as I suspect Pinot Noir. Either way, the wine should be around 55-60 degrees farenheit. If you want sweeter wine, I suggest going for a white wine. Dont listen to the 'ole "Red wine with steak, white with fish". Drink what you want. I always drink with the weather. In the summer a nice Viognier is nice or a Chenin Blanc,,,,in the cold of winter, there is nothing better than a big Cabernet Sauvignon....Spring and Fall always call for a good Pinot Noir. Just make sure that the wine you are drinking fits your mood. I always suggest developing a good relationship with your local wine/liquor store for good advice...

Answer 4

Basically, *all* whites should be served chilled (3-5 degrees celcius) while most reds (excluding rose and the like) should be served at room temperature.

the thing to remember is that "room temperature" relates to European weather conditions where, by and large, it is cooler and drier than Australia. I live in Cairns and there is no way I would drink (or store) a good red at room temp ... its just too hot. About 19 degrees is an approppriate 'room temperature' for most reds. So remember to cellar your reds somewhere cool and dry(corks facing down by the way) and either a) buy a wine fridge
or
b) put your wine in the line of the air-conditioning!

another thing that many casual drinkers neglect is decanting or airing your reds. Winemakers use sulphur to preserve the wine while it is sittigng and this ends up leaving even good wines tasting tart and unpleasant. you need to put your wine in a decanter and allow it to sit for at least 20 min before drinking it. if you don't have a decanter or the time to wait, try this:

keep an empty (clean) wine bottle and a clean funnel under your sink. then use the funnel to pur the wine from one bottle to another 3-4 times to aerate it. this is effectivey the same as decanting your wine for about 30 min (not exactly as good, but good enough for many people).

any red wine (particularly the big meaty shiraz that Ausies love) that costs more than about AU$15 should be decanted for at least an hour before being drunk. wines in the $15-$40 bracket should be decanted for up to 3 hours before being drunk. anythign more than 4 hours though is unproductive in that the wine starts to deteriorate.

I hope that that is helpful, but if you will excuse me, I have a plane to catch and a shocking hangover to nurse.

Answer 5

I don't drink much but I have heard that white wines are supposed to be chilled and reds at room temp.

Answer 6

White, Champagne, Rose all served chilled.
Most red wines are to be served at room temperature.

Answer 7

Whites, Roses and Champaigns and other bubblys chilled.
Reds, Sherrys and Ports at, or slightly below, room temperature.

Answer 8

I keep my wine fridge at
red - 65
white 56

Answer 9

Red = room temp.
White = refrigerated.