Wine Serving Temperatures
The serving temperature of wine is very important! Cold wine tastes completely different from wine served at a warmer temperature.
Light white wines should be served at 6-10°C (43-50°F).
Fuller white wines can be served at 10-14°C (50-57°F).
Light and fresh red wines are best at 14-16°C (57-61°F).
Powerful red wines can be served at 16-18°C (61-64°F).
No wine should be served hotter than 18°C (64°F).
Red Wines
| 17-18°C 63-64°F |
Rich, Intense, and Oaky Reds Amarone Barolo Bordeaux (High Quality) Brunello di Montalcino Cabernet Sauvignon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Côtes du Rhône (North) Malbec Montepulciano Nebbiolo Sangiovese Shiraz Syrah Tempranillo Zinfandel (Heavy) |
| 16-17°C 61-63°F |
Rich and Oaky Reds Chianti Classico Riserva Rioja Reserva Barbaresco Merlot (Oaked) Pinotage Ribera del Duero |
| 15-16°C 59-61°F |
Rich Reds Bordeaux (Medium Quality) Burgundy (High Quality) Barbera Côtes du Rhône (South) Rioja |
| 14-15°C 57-59°F |
Medium Reds Bardolino Burgundy (Medium Quality) Cabernet Franc Chianti Classico Dolcetto Merlot Pinot Noir Zinfandel (Light) |
| 12-14°C 54-57°F |
Light Reds Beaujolais Gamay Valpolicella |
| 50-54°F |
Light Juicy Reds Beaujolais Nouveau |
| 8-10°C 46-50°F |
Sparkling Reds Lambrusco |
White Wines
| 12-14°C 54-57°F |
Full Bodied Oaked Whites Chardonnay (High Quality) White Burgundy (High Quality) |
| 10-12°C 50-54°F |
Full Bodied Whites Chablis (High Quality) Rioja Blanco (Oaked) Sémillon Soave Superiore Viognier |
| 8-10°C 46-50°F |
Dry Whites Albariño Alvarinho Arneis Bordeaux (Sauvignon Based) Bordeaux (Semmilon Based) Chablis (Medium Quality) Chablis (Petit) Chardonnay (Unoaked) Chenin Blanc (Dry) Gewurztraminer (Dry) Malvasia (Dry) Muscadet Pinot Blanc Pinot Grigio Pouilly-Fumé Riesling Kabinett (Dry) Riesling Spätlese (Dry) Rioja Blanco (Unoaked) Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc Sémillon Weisburgunder Vinho Verde White Rhône (South) Vernaccia Vouvray |
| 6 - 8°C 43-46°F |
Off-Dry Whites Gewurztraminer (Off-Dry) Pinot Gris (Alsace) Riesling Kabinett (Off-Dry) Riesling Spätlese (Off-Dry) Chenin Blanc (Off-Dry) |
Rosé Wines
| 10-12°C 50-54°F |
Quality Rosé Malbec Rosé (Argentina) Pinot Noir Rosé (USA) Provence Rosé (France) Ribera del Duero Rosado (Spain) Shiraz Rosé (Australia) Shiraz Rosé (Chile) Syrah Rosé (USA) Tavel Rosé (France) Zinfandel Rosé (USA) |
| 8-10°C 46-50°F |
Medium Rosé Navarra Rosado (Spain) Nebbiolo Rosato (Italy) Murcia Rosado (Spain) Pinot Noir Rosé (New Zealand) Rioja Rosado (Spain) Valencia Rosado (Spain) |
| 6 - 8°C 43-46°F |
Low Quality Rosé |
Sparkling Wines
| 10-12°C | Full Body (50-54°F) Champagne (High Quality) |
| 8-10°C | Medium Body (46-50°F) Champagne (Medium Quality) Crémant Cava |
| 6 - 8°C | Light Body (43-46°F) Moscato d`Asti Prosecco |
Aperitifs
Dessert Wines
Fortified Wines
| 18°C / 64°F | Vintage Port | |
| 17°C / 63°F | Sherry (Sweet) | |
| 16°C / 61°F | Ruby Port | |
| 14°C / 57°F | Madeira (Malvasia) Tawny Port (Old) Vin Santo |
|
| 12°C / 54°F | Madeira (Bual and Verdelho) Tawny Port (Young) |
|
| 10°C / 50°F | Madeira (Sercial) Riesling Auslese Sherry (Dry) Tokay |
|
| 8°C / 47°F | Sauternes White Port |
|
| 6°C / 43°F | Ice Wine |