For us red wine lovers, it's familiar that red wine should be enjoyed warmer than, say, white wine. But why does temperature matter? What happens if red wine gets too warm or too cold? And how should you store it after opening? Let's dive into the wonderful world of red wine for a moment and find out.
The lighter, the cooler
When it comes to serving temperature for red wine, a good rule of thumb is that the lighter or less full-bodied the red wine, the cooler it should be served. For light red wines, the ideal serving temperature is around 14°C, and for fuller-bodied wines slightly cooler than room temperature, around 18°C. It's also worth noting that wine warms up a couple of degrees in the glass, so the serving temperature can be a bit too cool rather than too warm.
If you serve red wine too warm, the alcohol flavor typically becomes prominent and may mask other flavors. Cooler wine tastes fresher and more balanced, and its tannins, acids, and alcohol feel lighter and more pleasant.
If red wine is too cold, its aromas won't come through and the wine won't taste like much of anything. In this case, let the wine warm up.
You'll get the most enjoyment out of red wine when you remember to let it rest for a moment after opening the bottle before pouring it into glasses. This is especially beneficial for young wines, as the aromas open up and round out when the wine gets oxygen. Of course, you shouldn't leave the wine bottle uncorked overnight, as the flavor can suffer, especially if there's only a little wine left.
It'll keep if it doesn't go bad - right?
Red wines generally tend to go bad faster than white wines, and ideally an opened bottle of red wine shouldn't be stored for more than a day or two. Wines made from particularly acidic grape varieties like Pinot Noir can stay drinkable for several days if needed. Of course, it also depends on how sensitive your taste buds are – some people may find wine too oxidized sooner than others.
The best place for an opened bottle of red wine is the fridge, but if you prefer, you can also store it at room temperature for the next day, as long as the cork is in. Bag-in-box wines are a different story, as they're vacuum-packed, so oxygen can't degrade the wine's quality. Bag-in-box wines can be stored at room temperature even after opening.
Does it look like a drop of red wine is going to be left at the bottom of the bottle and time is running out? No worries. A good trick is to freeze the leftover wine in an ice cube tray and use the red wine cubes later in cooking.
