What is the ideal temperature to serve wine?

The temperature of the wine plays a fundamental role in the sensation it will transmit when tasting it. The ideal temperature range is between 5 and 18 degrees, so that the grapes maintain their appearance and are not too aggressive.

Various errors are often made in this regard, although perhaps the most common is the so-called "room temperature". This term, adopted in French castles centuries ago, referred to the temperatures of the time, when heating did not exist and buildings were much colder than now. At that time, the ambient temperature could be around 16 degrees. Another error is on the other side of the thermometer, very low. Bottles of wine that arrive on our tables almost frozen are usually stored in the freezer. This method allows you to hide the damage of bad wine, but also the taste of healthy wine.

In general, it is worth remembering that cold reduces the sensation of sweetness and alcohol, but increases tannins and acidity. So if it is a wine with a lot of alcohol, it is better to let it cool a little; If it is a wine with a lot of tannin, it is better to let the temperature rise a little.

What is the best way to chill wine? Very cold water is an easy, effective and economical method that allows us to play with the temperature as we wish. You have to use a cooler, fill it with ice and water so that the cold is distributed evenly throughout the bottle, not just in the part where there is ice directly touching the bottle. If we want to do it quickly, we can add salt to the water so that the ice melts easily. In case of emergency (when we don't have ice or a cooler), we can put it in the refrigerator.

And finally, we must remember that it is important to maintain the necessary temperature when we go out for lunch or dinner. We don't mind asking to chill the wine if we think it is necessary. It must be taken into account that the serving temperature is not the same as the drinking temperature, since the wine heats up quickly when entering the glass; However, if in doubt, it is best to serve the wine a few degrees colder than we like, since in a few minutes it will reach a higher temperature.

In conclusion, I hope this article has been useful for all those who want to learn how to serve wine correctly and enjoy their favorite drink with friends or family.

We share a quick guide to know the ideal serving temperature:

• From 5ºC to 8ºC: young, sparkling, fine and manzanilla whites
• From 8ºC to 10ºC: pinks, very sweet whites
• From 10ºC to 12ºC: aged whites, amontillados, Oloroso and port wines
• From 12ºC to 14ºC: young reds with little tannic
• From 14ºC to 16ºC: aged reds
• From 17ºC to 18ºC: reserva and gran reserva reds