Serving wine well

Temperature changes a wine more than the glass does. Too warm and a red tastes flabby and alcoholic; too cold and a white goes mute.

• Sparkling 6–8°C
• Light / aromatic whites & rosé 8–10°C
• Full-bodied / oaked whites 10–13°C
• Light reds (Beaujolais, Pinot) 12–14°C
• Full reds (Cabernet, Syrah) 15–18°C

“Room temperature” dates from cold stone houses — most modern rooms are too warm for red.