Wine service temperature vs. Wine drinking temperature

Wine service temperature vs. Wine drinking temperature

Everyone of us has at least once in his or her life tasted a wine at the wrong temperature.

And obviously we will have realized that probably our perception and experience was affected by temperature. let's try to make things clearer, in particular for white wines. In the past we already talked about service temperature. In this article we will better analyze drinking temperature as well and we will also make an in depth analysis about why white wine should be served cooler.

The correct serving temperature is extremely important in order to value and appreciate a bottle of wine. Why white wine is drunk cold? The "fault" is all of the tongue.

 

The correct serving temperature is extremely important in order to value and appreciate a bottle of wine. Why white wine is drunk cold? The "fault" is all of the tongue... this muscle, in fact, is sensitive to thermal stimuli as well.

 

 

Temperature is capable of modifying the perception of wine's taste. By lowering it, in fact, it is possible to better perceive sapidity, crispness and acidity, agreeable and wanted characteristics in white wines; whereas sweetness is more easily perceivable with the increasing of temperature (which also dampens tannins in red wine).

 

White wines are generally not served at high temperatures because they are more acid than red wines. The taste, therefore, is more pleasing at low temperatures (between 10 and 14 °C). Of course, there is a difference between a dry and young white wine and a mature dry or dry and aromatic white wine and therefore they require different serving temperatures.

 

Why white wine is drunk chilled: scheme

Dry and young white wines: the suggested serving temperature is between 6 and 8°C (46 and 46°F).

Mature and structured white wines: the suggested serving temperature is between 10 and 12°C (10 and 12°F)

Dry aromatic white wines: the recommended serving temperature is between 8 and 10°C (46 and 47°F)

Fresh fruity white wines: the suggested serving temperature is about 10° C (50° F)

Raisin wines: the suggested serving temperature is between 8 and 10°C (8 and 10°F)

White fortified wines: the suggested serving temperature is between 8 and 10°C (46 and 53°F)

Dry sparkling wines: the suggested serving temperature is between 4 and 6°C

Sweet sparkling wines: the suggested serving temperature is 8°C (46°F)

 

What’s the difference between drinking temperature and service temperature?

 

 

This is definitely one of the mysteries of the sommelier world.

And every great sommelier or wine specialist knows that they will have to do their best in order to make their guest have the best possible experience.

That being said, let's try to shed some light on this topic.

 

It is important to understand that when serving a wine it should be served slightly lower than the real serving temperature - as a matter of fact wine will have plenty of time to warm up in the glass of your guest.

Moreover the latter will be able, by warming the glass with his or her hands, to slightly change the temperature according to his or her preference.

 

Therefore the serving temperature will be different from the drinking temperature.

 

Especially in summertime, serving a white wine at about 5° C (41° F) is not wrong at all.

As well as serving a red wine at 12 degrees is not wrong, on the contrary, it will help to implement the success of the experience for your guest.

 

Moreover we can play with drinking and serving temperatures not only based on seasonality but also according to the food we decide to match.

 

The key, however, is always the same, experiment and play with wine - you will better understand your desires, preferences and your palate.

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