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Perfect Drinking Temperature for Wine

  • Perfect drinking temperature for Red Wines: 12˚C < 18˚C, White Wine: 8˚C < 12˚C, Champagne / Dessert Wine: 5˚C and 7˚C.
  • Red Wine should be uncorked and decanted at least 30/60 minutes before serving.
  • White Wine is best served cold; keep chilled when serving if possible.

Perfect wine drinking temperature

The two most important aspects of wine are storing the wine and the serving temperature of the wine. Wineware has created a ‘Wine Storage Temperature Guide’ to help you store your wine bottles safely and correctly. This ‘Perfect Drinking Temperature for Wine’ guide will advise you on which temperature to serve your wine (red/white/sparkling) for maximum enjoyment without compromising the flavour or aroma.

Why is the serving temperature of wine important?

The serving temperature of a wine is often overlooked. However, the serving temperature is critical and crucial to unlocking the full flavour and aromas of a wine. It is important to remember that each wine has an ideal serving temperature, and one temperature is not suitable for all. Our guide shows the temperatures (˚F and ˚C), which we feel are ideal for serving various wines.

Wineware tip: As a general rule, red wine should be uncorked for at least half an hour to an hour, while white wine is best served cold. This is only a rough guide that differs from one bottle to another. For instance, you can enjoy a dry red wine, slightly little chilled, whilst sweet white wine benefits from being served slightly warm.

What temperature should I serve wine?

We have produced this table to help you know the best temperature to serve your wine:

WineTypeTemperature (˚F)Temperature (˚C)
Vintage Port Fortified Wine 66˚F 19˚C
Bordeaux, Shiraz Red Wine 64˚F 18˚C
Red Burgundy, Cabernet Red Wine 63˚F 17˚C
Rioja, Pinot Noir Red Wine 61˚F 16˚C
Chianti, Zinfandel Red Wine 59˚F 15˚C
Tawny/NV Port Fortified Wine 57˚F 14˚C
Beaujolais, Rosé White Wine / Rosé 54˚F 12˚C
Viognier, Sauternes White Wine 52˚F 11˚C
Chardonnay White Wine 48˚F 9˚C
Riesling White Wine 47˚F 8˚C

Champagne, Sparkling Wine, Dessert Wine
*Tip - Champagne is best served and enjoyed chilled

Sparkling Wine

45˚F 7˚C
Ice Wines Dessert Wine 43˚F 6˚C
Asti Spumanti Sparkling Wine 41˚F 5˚C

If you are still unsure about the serving temperature for your particular bottle of wine, please contact Wineware, we will always be happy to help you, and we can add it to our table featured above. Please browse our range of wine serving accessories here.

Download and Print

Download Wineware’s PDF version - Suggested Wine Drinking Temperatures. From now on, enjoy drinking your wine at the perfect temperature.

General wine serving tips

  • If you are ever in doubt, serve the wine a few degrees cooler than room temperature. This will allow the release of rich and powerful aromas as the wine warms up to room temperature.
  • Decanting wine will also bring it up to room temperature, and this allows the wine to breathe.
  • Still, it would be best if you always poured wines towards the centre of the wine glass.
  • It would be best if you always poured sparkling wines against the side of the glass to preserve the bubbles.
  • No wine should ever be served over 20˚C (68˚F).
  • The shape of the wine glass is essential. Wineware has a ‘What Are Wine Tasting Glasses’ guide to advise you on the appropriate glassware for your wine.
  • If you are hosting a dinner party, it is always important to remember to serve wine in the correct order. You should try and serve lighter wines before full-bodied wines and serve chilled wines before those at room temperature.
  • If you do not finish a bottle of wine, there are numerous ways to preserve your wine, such as: using wine bottle stoppers, wine shields, wine pumps and argon gas. These preservation methods are cost-effective and ensure the wine does not get wasted.
  • Use a high-quality, reliable corkscrew such as a Laguiole en Aubrac or a Pulltap Waiters Friend Double Lever Corkscrew.
  • Always have an extra corkscrew!

Wineware is always here to answer any questions you may have, so please contact us if you require further information or advice.