While many of us wouldn’t dream of drinking white wine without it being perfectly chilled, the ideal serving temperature for red wine is often overlooked. Yet as more attention is paid to a wine’s craftsmanship, quality, and story, serving it at the right temperature deserves equal consideration – after all, it can make all the difference to the drinking experience.
According to wine expert and founder of the School of Booze, Jane Peyton, “the serving temperature for red wine depends on its body and tannins”.
“Lighter, lower tannin wines such as beaujolais (made from the bamay grape) and pinot noir are best served at cooler temperatures, 12C to 15C,” Peyton explains.
When it comes to medium-bodied and tannin wines like merlot and grenache, she says these are best served at 13C to 16C. Full-bodied wines, such as malbec and cabernet sauvignon, have high tannins, explains Peyton and should be served at 15C to 18C.
Refrigerating your red wine can keep it fresher for longer, as it slows oxidation. Robust reds can benefit from being bought to room temperature to release their aromas, which can be done by decanting the wine.
Meanwhile, refrigerating a lighter red or a quickly dunking the bottle in a bucket of ice and water is a great way to enjoy it. As Peyton explains, these types of wine are best enjoyed at a lower temperature. There’s no need to bring it up to room temperature either, as serving cool is best.
Read more: Best rosé wines, tested
Chassaux Et Fils Côtes du Rhône
IndyBest best budget red wine, Aldi’s cote du rhone “is an honest relaxed wine that may feel a little bit rustic but has some pleasant black fruit flavours,” according to wine expert Lily Thomas. It has a “nice softness and gentle structure, hints of oak, cherry and bramble”. This is a medium-bodied, dry red blend so is best served between 13C and 16C.
Buy now £5.29, Aldi.co.uk
Clos des Nines Cinso Loco 2022
This is a highly rated organic red by wine expert Lily Thomas, who said it’s “interesting and a great conversation starter” in her Clos des Nines red wine review. “Light in colour for a cinsualt, the wine definitely has texture and tastes like ripe berries mixed with dried figs and some floral notes,” she added. As this is a lighter red, choose to serve it a 12C to 15C.
Buy now £22.95, Davywine.co.uk
La Sauvageonne grand vin
From a well-known wine maker, the La Sauvageonne grand vin is a full red wine. In her review, wine expert Lily Thomas noted that it’s “perfect for winter” because of its concentrated flavours – from leather, to smoke and tobacco. Being a full red, serve it at 15C to 18C.
Buy now £31, Majestic.co.uk
Tbilvino Saperavi Georgia 2023
This Georgian red wine is “rich, smooth and full bodied red has cherries and hint of spice,” according to wine expert Lily Thomas, adding that “while it is heavy, it’s not too heavy”. Appearing dark in the glass from the Georgian grape saperavi, on the palate it’s alive with flavours that conjure colder months. As a dry, medium-to-full-bodied red, you might want to serve it around 15 to 16C.
Buy now £15, Majestic.co.uk
These are the best supermarket wines, according to experts and sommeliers
