In this article, we’re going to be discussing what the is to store .
Now, we’re fully aware that this topic can be a little subjective, because every wine enthusiast/wine collector has different opinions on this, and this may be based on their own research, level of experience, or even what they’ve heard from fellow wine lovers.
Nonetheless, we’ve done our best to find the officially cited , and we’ve linked to the source so that you can verify that we’ve done our research property.
Therefore, without further ado, let’s get into it!
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should be stored in a at the officially cited of 55 degrees. This is known as the .
However, the of will depend on which kind it is:
Light red wines such as , Beaujolais, or Chianti being best suited for serving at 60-65 degrees, due to their lower tannin count.
Medium red wines such as Sangiovese and Mencia are best served around 60-65 degrees.
Heavier red wines, which are full-bodied (thus have a higher tannin count), such as Malbec, Bordeaux and Sagrantino are best served at 63-68 degrees.
For those who may not be aware of how light or heavy a wine is, we’ve included a ‘ boldness chart’ from Wine Folly which shows all of the light-bodied, medium-bodied and full-bodied red wines.
Why chill ?
Although more of a subjective answer, drinking a chilled is always a little more refreshing than one that has been left at .
Not only this, but the process of chilling the wine in a actually helps bring out the wine’s natural acidity and really heightens its fresh, fruity aromas.
However, it should be noted that if you’re chilling a full-bodied wine, which has a high tannin count, such as a Barolo or Napa , we recommend raising the storage temperature slightly, as it can promote a very acidic taste, especially when chilled over a long period of time.
It’s also good to let it stand for approximately 15 minutes before serving… The reason is that it will promote the flavors of the wine to surface, whilst helping eliminate the acidity of the harsh tannins.
Additionally, for those interested, we’ve also got a guide on what temperature white wine should be stored at, which you can read here.
