Serving temperature can have a huge impact on the taste of wine. If you want to experiment, take a glass of Chardonnay that was made with oak (it doesn’t have to be a heavily oaked Chardonnay but one kept only in Stainless won’t
illustrate this point as well). Once it’s at refrigerator temperature, pour a glass and take a small sip. Now put it in the microwave for 3 seconds (… Sorry connoisseurs but this is for science). Try another sip. This can be repeated several times
before the wine rises above cellar temperature. The taste and structure of the wine should change noticeably with every 2 to 3 degree increment.
White wines, except those made to be served very cold, should be removed prior to serving. Room temperature red wines can be brought to the correct serving temperature by placing them in the freezer for a short amount of time. Your refrigerator and freezer are tools, so don’t be afraid to use them. The table below provides general guidelines to get your wine to the correct serving temperature.
All freezers vary in temperature and most have cold spots, so customizing the table to fit yours will likely be necessary:
 |
Desired Serving Temperature for White Wines |
Time Out of Refrigerator |
44F to 48F |
Serve immediately from refrigerator |
|
48F to 52F |
Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before serving |
|
52F to 56F |
Remove from refrigerator 40 minutes before serving |
|
Desired Serving Temperature for Red Wines |
Time In Freezer |
|
60F to 62F |
Place in freezer 35 minutes before serving |
|
63F to 65F |
Place in freezer 25 minutes before serving |
|
65F or above |
Place in freezer 15 minutes before serving |
For each type of Californian wine, we offer temperature recommendations on each individual wine varietal page.
One you’ve got a wine to the right serving temperature, keeping it there is also important. Unless you are going to pour the entire bottle at once, use a stone (or ceramic) holder to help keep the wine at the correct serving temperature for a longer period of time. The stone will help slow the warming process much as a foam cooler does for a bottle of beer (hey, man can’t live on wine alone).
