Serving Wine Perfectly: Temperatures, Insights, and glassware

Understanding wine serving temperatures

WHAT IS THE BEST TEMPERATURE TO SERVE WHITE WINE?

White wine is best consumed within the range of 6 to 13 degrees Celsius. However, if the wine temperature is too low, it will suppress the wine’s aroma and flavour. Dessert wines and sweet wines should be served between 6 to 8 degrees Celsius, light and medium body varietals like Riesling, or Rosé, Fiano, Gewürztraminer, and Sauvignon Blanc should be served between 7 to 10 degrees Celsius, while full-bodied wines such as Chardonnay and Viognier are best consumed between 10 to 13 degrees Celsius.

What is the best temperature to serve red wine?

Red wine is best consumed at 18-20 degrees Celsius. In summer, if the ambient temperature is too high, it is necessary to cool the wine slightly. Red wine with too high temperature may volatilise, causing its alcohol concentration to become high and fail to show its best state. As a rule of thumb, light-bodied reds like Pinot Noir should be served within the range of 13 to 15 degrees Celsius, medium body red wines such as Grenache and Sangiovese between 15 to 18 degrees Celsius, and full-bodied reds like Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz at 18 to 20 degrees Celsius.

What is the best temperature to serve champagne?

Penfolds Champagnes are best served at a temperature range of 6 to 10 degrees Celsius, ensuring the preservation of their elegant, crisp characteristics – hallmarks of traditional Champagne.

Wine glassware for serving

Wine lovers can may choose a variety of high-quality wine glassware. The brand, style and appearance of the wine set purchased depends depend on personal wine preference, taste and budget. Most prestigious glass producers believe that the shape and size of wine glasses have a direct impact on the aroma and flavour of wine.

Many glass manufacturers have developed wine glassware sets suitable for different grape varieties and wine styles. For general purpose wine glasses, Penfolds recommends that you use high-quality large wine glasses to prevent splashing when rotating the wine. High-quality wine glasses are a work of art in themselves, they can help you appreciate the colour of the wine and promote the aroma of the wine to gush lift from the mouth of the glass.

Storing wine glassware

The issue of poor storage of wine glassware is rarely mentioned. If the wine glass is not used frequently or stored in a carton, it will accumulate fine dust or absorb environmental odours. Wine glasses stored in wooden or classic wine cabinets are particularly prone to this problem.

If a wine glass is not properly cleaned before use, it can contaminate the wine. Dishwasher cleaning may leave a detergent residue on the glass, which can affect the aroma and taste. Additionally, if the glass is not thoroughly cleaned, it can develop unpleasant odours. Before cleaning, be sure to remove any lipstick marks, as the wax in lipstick can break down and coat the inside of the glass. Penfolds recommends cleaning and drying wine glasses before use, unless you are certain they have been stored in a clean, odour-free environment.

DECANTING

While not every wine requires decanting, most quality or aged red wines will benefit from it. The decision ultimately lies with you, however, should you wish to decant your wine, we recommend a few simple steps to ensure the best result.

Discover Decanting Tips