Should Red Wine Be Chilled?

Myth: Red Wine Should Never Be Chilled!

Often people are told that they should only keep white and sparkling wine in the fridge and red wines should be served at room temperature. While most of the time red wines express characteristics better at warmer temperatures than whites, you are probably serving your red wine too warm, and your white wine too cold!

Lighter red wines from grapes such as Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Gamay, Frappato, Zwigelt, Cincault, and many others often significantly benefit from a light chill! The wines are more expressive, flavorful, and enjoyable at slightly cooler temperatures.

The ideal temperature for lighter red wines is around 55˚F (about 15-20 minutes in the fridge). Even medium to full body red wines should be served right below room temperature (60-65˚F). Keep in mind the average room temperature is more than 70˚F!

You might not think just a few degrees makes a difference, but trust us on this one. It really can be a game changer, so don’t be afraid to experiment with the temperature a little bit!