Ideal Serving Temperature for Wine (Red and White) | Wine Folly (2024)
Does wine serving temperature matter? Imagine it this way: does lemonade taste better at room temperature or ice-cold? Here are some best practices on wine serving temperature based on style of wine.
Serve red wines slightly cooler than room temperature, between 62–68 degrees F (15–20 °C).
Generally speaking, serve white wines slightly warmer than fridge temperature, between 49-55 degrees F (7–12 °C).
If the wine doesn’t have any flavor, try warming it up. (Common if you store your reds in the fridge)
Generally speaking, wine aficionados don’t like white wines to be too cold or reds to be too hot.
Just so you know, make sure to store your wines at “cellar temperatures” it allows them to last a lot longer!
Lower quality wines do well served cooler, it mutes potential flaws in the aromas. The cooler a wine, the less aroma volatilize in your glass.
Sparkling wines taste great ice-cold, but it’s important to allow higher-quality examples (i.e. vintage Champagne) to warm up a bit to let out their aromas.
Experiment on Your Own
Wine serving temperature greatly affects what flavors and aromas of the wine you’ll smell. Personal preference also matters. If you like drinking everything ice cold, go for it, but check out what you might be missing at warmer temps first.
Learn about all the other nifty tips to serve wine like a pro by checking out our 7 Basics to Serving Wine.
Serve red wines slightly cooler than room temperature, between 62–68 degrees F (15–20 °C). Generally speaking, serve white wines slightly warmer than fridge temperature, between 49-55 degrees F (7–12 °C). Learn more about wine! Subscribe to Wine Folly's free newsletter and get the practical guide on wine.
And because of this change over the years, you're probably serving your red wine a bit too warm. Most red wine is meant to be served between 55-65 degrees Fahrenheit to help maintain the intended flavor of the wine.
Red wine should always be served slightly below room temperature. As a rule of thumb, aim to serve your red wine at a temperature of 11°C to 20°C. Pinot Noir, among other light red wines, should be served on the cooler end of the scale.
Serve red wines slightly cooler than room temperature, between 62–68 degrees F (15–20 °C). Generally speaking, serve white wines slightly warmer than fridge temperature, between 49-55 degrees F (7–12 °C). Learn more about wine!
To achieve the best possible color and maximize tannin extraction, the fermentation temperature for most red wines should be kept between 70 °F and 85 °F.
You're correct that red wines are typically served at room temperature, and that white wines are served chilled. I feel whites show their best anywhere from about 40° to 50° F and red wines around 60° to 65° F.
Red wine should ideally be stored at a temperature range of 52–57°F (11–14°C). Exceeding 75°F (24°C) risks oxidation, which can damage the wine's flavour and aroma.
Many red wine enthusiasts prefer reds to be served a few degrees below room temperature, generally in the 60 – 65 degree Fahrenheit range. As such, the ideal storage temperature ranges approximately between 58 – 65 degrees Fahrenheit – but no higher than 70 degrees.
Chill red wine to 53-69 °F (12-21 °C). Always serve red wine below room temperature. Serve rich red wines, like Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, at a warmer temperature than light red wines, like Pinot Noir and Zinfandel. Rich wines taste smoother when you serve them a little warmer.
White, Rosé and Sparkling Wine: Whites need a chill to lift delicate aromas and acidity. However, when they're too cold, flavors become muted. Like reds, fuller-bodied wines like Chardonnay from Burgundy and California shine between 50°F and 60°F.
Light, Dry Whites (Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Riesling, etc.) Serve at 45–49°F. Tip: The lighter the wine is in color and style, the colder it should be served to maintain its acidity and freshness.
The most common misconception with heavy red wine is that it's ideal to serve it at room temperature. In fact, serving it slightly cool is the best way to enjoy it. To cool red down to its proper temperature, we like to place it in the fridge an hour before serving it.
You don't need to refrigerate red wine if it's unopened, but red wine is at its best when stored at a temperature of about 55° F. The ideal temperature for serving red wine is between 60-68° F. That should be cooler than room temperature, the temp most people probably go by when pouring reds.
Fruity notes tend to become more pronounced, while tannins—the bitter and astringent chemical compounds in red wine—tend to “shut down,” she says. That means the best reds to drink cold are lighter, younger varieties, like a Pinot Noir or Grenache.
Heat is a wine killer. Temperatures over 70 degrees for a significant amount of time can permanently taint the flavor of wine. Above 80 degrees or so and you are literally starting to cook the wine. Wine heat damage tastes unpleasantly sour and jammy…
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