Everything You Need to Know about Serving Wine

If you're a wine collector, it stands to reason that you will want to learn how to properly serve wine.

Serving Wine at the Right Temperature The temperature of the wine at the point of service affects its taste. A rule of thumb is to serve champagne chilled to 35 to 40 F; white wines between 40 to 45 and red wines around 55 F. Once opened, the bottle should be left at the table or serving area and allowed to warm up, which many connoisseurs believe releases more flavor. Champagne should also be kept on ice during service. It usually takes a bottle of wine ten minutes in the fridge to reduce its temperature by 4 F. So if the room temperature is 65 F in the wine storage area, you will need to place the wine in the refrigerator for almost 40 minutes before service.

If a wine bottle has noticeable sediment, allow it to stand upright for an hour or so, this will allow the sediment to settle in the bottom of the bottle. This can take place during the chilling process in the refrigerator.

Wine Glasses
Another important consideration in serving wine is the type of glass that is used. The shape of the glass affects the taste as well. There are three basic types of wine glasses: the tulip shaped wine glasses which are designed to enhance white wine; rounded, larger bowled wine glasses for red wines; and tall, thin wine glasses for sparkling wines.

When you first get into wine collecting, you may opt to purchase all-purpose wine glasses. These stemmed wine glasses usually hold 10 ounces of wine and are clear with an inward curve near the top of the glass. This holds in the smell or bouquet of the wine and enhances its taste. Eventually you will want to invest in a collection of wine glasses, each made for a specific type of wine.

Serving Wine
Fill the wine glass no more than two-thirds full. Most wine lover's prefer to swirl the glass and check out the bouquet of the varietal. This allows the aroma to "bloom" and fill the glass. Pour the wine towards the center of the wine glass. Sparkling wine should be poured against the glass, to preserve the bubbles. Twist the bottle slightly as your lift it upright to control dripping.

When serving wine at a dinner party, always serve the women and older guests first, then the men and reserve the final pour for yourself. As needed, serve additional wine throughout the meal.

Serving wine is an art. Proper service enhances the wine-tasting experience. By serving wine at the correct temperature and in the right wine glasses, the wine will taste better. By understanding the do's and don'ts of serving wine, you can become the instrument for wine appreciation amongst your friends and associates.