Useful Wine Serving Tips

Too often at home and in restaurants, wine is served at the improper temperature. Red wines should be served at 65 degrees F. In hot climates like Texas, room temperature is often warmer than 65 degrees, so putting them in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes prior to serving helps cool the wine to the proper temperature. Red wines are often served too warm, making the alcohol “hot” and the fruit muted.

White wines should be served chilled at a temperature of 45-55 degrees F.  If they are served warm, they tend to taste dull and less fruitful.  If served too cold, the fruit and bouquet are inhibited.

For more formal occasions, use a pre-chilled wine bucket – it makes serving easy, and your guests will appreciate having wine at the right temperature.

Serve yourself before your guests so that any excess cork that has fallen into the bottle will not be poured into your guests’ glasses.

Find more helpful food and wine tips in our Vineyard Cuisine: Meals and Memories from Messina Hof cookbook.