| Check out Momma Explains for the original post | | | | as the term originated was really closer to 60 |
| and more wine blogging ideas. | | | | degrees F. Now, I know most of you buy your |
| Wine is a fairly complex potion and it is affected | | | | wine the day of your party, that is fine . Just cool |
| by sunlight, heat, low and high temperatures plus | | | | your red wine down before serving by putting it |
| many other internal and external components. | | | | in a basin with ice and water ( water helps the |
| Each grape, each wine is best served at a | | | | cooling process) but I will not be giving a lecture |
| temperature which will enhance not mask its | | | | on thermodynamics at this time. Just stick your |
| qualities, or in the case of the sun drenched | | | | bottle of red in an ice/water bath for about 30 |
| kitchen" COOK" the wine into nothingness. | | | | minutes, especially if it has been sitting around |
| Serving white wine straight out of the refrigerator | | | | your 70 degree home all day or in a store. There |
| makes them taste like water. Wine is aromatic, it | | | | are charts available to tell you ideal serving |
| involves not only the sense of taste but the | | | | temperatures for red wine, and though there is |
| sense of smell. Your refrigerator is set at | | | | disagreement among connoisseurs, this is a quick |
| between 35 - 40 degrees F. The only wine that | | | | version of consensus. Beaujolais, Port, and Chianti |
| you would serve close to that temperature is ice | | | | at about 55-59 F. Rioja, Pinot, Bordeaux and |
| wine , served at about 43-44 degrees F. Okay | | | | Shiraz at about 61- 65. This is a rough chart but it |
| now don't panic and think you need to go buy a | | | | will give you a general idea as to the potential that |
| chemistry thermometer. Most whites can be | | | | temperature can have on your wine experience. |
| served fairly safely at 45 -55 degrees. | | | | You could even experiment on your own with |
| Chardonnay is served at the 55 end while | | | | friends and start with the wine at a lower temp |
| Champagne is best at about 45. There is room | | | | then let in warm up as it sits out and try it again, |
| for discrepancy but don't over chill your whites. | | | | eventually as you manage to drink the entire |
| Just let them stand out at room temp for awhile. | | | | bottle of wine you will realize there was a point at |
| So doing my mental math ( I won't bore you with | | | | which the wine was more enjoyable. Personally, I |
| the formula for degree rate of increased | | | | do like my Chianti cool as it rounds the acid but |
| temperature) Take your white wine out of the | | | | locks in the flavor to accompany my favorite |
| refrigerator about 20 minutes before serving. | | | | Italian dishes. |
| Wine will warm up in the glass, in the room and in | | | | Just remember, Whites do not get served |
| the hands. In Momma's family it does not spend | | | | directly from the fridge and Reds do not get |
| much time in the glass or hand. | | | | served directly from the counter. Wines have so |
| Red Wine is the most abused wine around. Red | | | | much flavor to offer, serve them at the right |
| wine is often complex and higher in alcohol than | | | | temperature and for goodness sakes, go out and |
| white so if you serve it at room temperature, ( | | | | buy the large size wine glasses. Those pathetic |
| given room temperature which is really about 70 | | | | shot glasses with a stem that they serve at |
| degrees F.), then let it sit in a glass and then wait | | | | many a wedding are not going to help you |
| a bit, UGH, it is ruining the whole bouquet, | | | | appreciate all a wine's nuances. |
| complexity and flavor. The wine is not meant to | | | | My favorite glasses are Riedel but the large |
| be served at room temperature. That whole idea | | | | stores like Sams or Costco sell a cheap |
| originated prior to insulation and controlled heat. | | | | alternative that will do just fine. If you are drinking |
| Years ago people actually had cellars, cold, damp | | | | wine then you deserve to be enjoying all the |
| places that were about 55 degrees and they | | | | aspects that make wine so delicious. |
| stored their wine and some root vegetables | | | | Remember " Sorrow can be alleviated by a good |
| there. In those earlier times a home was cool | | | | sleep, a bath and a glass of good wine ", Saint |
| compared to our homes. So room temperature | | | | Thomas Aquinas. |