Wine Serving Temperature Guide

When it comes to serving the perfect glass of wine, various factors play a role—including the wine serving temperature. The temperature at which a bottle of wine is served can be the difference between a great pour and a terrible one.

So what steps can you take to make sure your wine bottles reach the proper temperature before serving? Check out the wine serving temperature chart below, plus our top tips on wine storage temperature.

Recommended Wine Temperature for Different Types of Wine

Every type of wine has a recommended serving temperature that’s designed to bring out its intended flavors, sweetness or acidity, and tannins. Here’s everything you need to know about proper wine storage and serving temps for red, white, Rosé, sparkling, and dessert and fortified wines.

Red Wine Serving Temperature

Red wine should be served just shy of room temperature, between 55° and 65° Fahrenheit. While lighter reds are better served on the cooler end of this temperature spectrum, full-bodied reds are better enjoyed when served at slightly warmer temperatures.

Red wine that’s served too warm can sustain heat damage, which tarnishes its freshness and flavor profile, effectively making the wine go bad. On the other hand, red wine that’s served too cold has tannins that are too harsh for any taste buds.

Here’s how to achieve the ideal temperature for red wine.

• Chilling Method: All red wine bottles should be stored in a refrigerator at 55° Fahrenheit.
• Chilling Time: Chill red wine bottles anywhere from 25 minutes to one hour. Light and medium-bodied reds should be chilled longer than full-bodied reds.
• Removal Time: Remove bottles of red wine from the refrigerator up to a few hours before serving. We recommend decanting red wine during this time to ensure the best taste.

White Wine Serving Temperature

White wine is best served just above fridge temperature, between 45° and 55° Fahrenheit. Lighter whites should be served on the colder side to preserve its acidity and flavor profile while full-bodied whites should be served closer to room temperature to deliver the ideal drinking experience.

White wine that’s served too warm can lose its freshness, acidity, and fruity aromas. White wine that’s served too cold can end up with flavors and aromas that don’t release properly.

Here’s how you can achieve the proper serving temperature for white wine.

• Chilling Method: All white wine bottles should be stored in a refrigerator at 55° Fahrenheit.
• Chilling Time: We recommend placing bottles of white wine in the refrigerator one to two hours before serving.
• Removal Time: Remove white wine bottles from the refrigerator soon before serving, and leave them on the table while serving.

Rosé Wine Serving Temperature

Rosé wine should be served between 48° and 53° Fahrenheit, which is slightly warmer than white wine, to bring out its fruit flavors and tannins. Just like with red and white wines, the lighter the Rosé, the more chilled it should be when served. The more full-bodied it is, the less chilled it should be when served.

Rosé wine that’s served too warm loses its freshness, whereas Rosé wine that’s served too cold suffers from muted aromas and flavors.

Want to achieve the right serving temperature for Rosé wine? Follow these steps to fully enjoy every glass in your next bottle.

• Chilling Method: All Rosé wine bottles should be stored in a refrigerator at 55° Fahrenheit.
• Chilling Time: Chill the wine between two and four hours before serving.
• Removal Time: Remove Rosé wine from the refrigerator 15 to 30 minutes before serving.

Sparkling Wine Serving Temperature

Sparkling wine should be served extremely chilled to preserve its flavor profile and maintain the crispness of the bubbles. Whether you’re drinking prosecco or vintage champagne, sparkling wine should be served between 43° and 47° Fahrenheit,  the coldest out of all wine types.

When served too warm, sparkling wine runs the risk of losing bubbles, making it less crisp and refreshing. When served too cold, the bottle could freeze and burst when you open it.

Achieve the ideal serving temperature for sparkling wine by following these steps the next time you open a bottle of bubbly.

• Chilling Method: All sparkling wine bottles should be chilled in the freezer before serving.
• Chilling Time: Since sparkling wines like Prosecco and vintage Champagne are best enjoyed at cooler temperatures, place your bottles in the freezer—rather than the refrigerator—a few hours before serving. Be mindful not to leave them in the freezer for too long. If needed, you can place the bottles in ice buckets to maintain their chill.
• Removal Time: Remove bottles of sparkling wine from the freezer right before serving to preserve the signature chill.

Dessert and Fortified Wine Serving Temperature

Dessert and fortified wines are best enjoyed when served at temperatures between 57° and 66° Fahrenheit. As with red, white, and Rosé wines, lighter dessert and fortified wines can be chilled longer than their full-bodied counterparts.

When served too warm, the taste of these wines becomes too heavy. On the flip side, when served too cold, their signature flavors and aromas are suppressed.

Here’s how you can reach the perfect serving temperature for dessert and fortified wines.

• Chilling Method: All dessert and fortified wine bottles should be stored in a refrigerator at 55° Fahrenheit.
• Chilling Time: Lighter bottles should be chilled for 45 minutes while full-bodied bottles should be chilled for 20 minutes.
• Removal Time: Remove the wine from the refrigerator 15 to 30 minutes before serving.

5 Tips for Achieving the Proper Wine Temperature

If you’re not sure how to achieve the right serving temperature for your wine bottles, follow these five simple steps to master the practice in no time.

1. Know what you’re dealing with: Serving wine at the right temperature starts with knowing what type of wine you plan to serve, chilling it properly, and removing it from the refrigerator or freezer long enough before serving. Give the wine plenty of time to chill and sit out.
2. Store it properly: Store your wine bottles at the recommended temperature of 55° Fahrenheit to ensure the best pour.
3. Check the temperature: Use a wine thermometer to make sure your wine stays within the recommended temperature range.
4. Maintain a steady temperature: Extreme temperature fluctuations can negatively impact the wine’s flavors and aromas. Whether you’re chilling or storing your wine, try your best to maintain a consistent temperature from start to finish.
5. Trust your taste buds: Feel free to experiment with different temperatures to find your sweet spot that brings out the wine’s best qualities.

Find Your Favorite Wine Bottles & Accessories

Whatever type of wine you’re looking for, The Wine Cellar Group has it. Browse our online collection to find everything from reds, whites, and Rosés to sparkling and dessert wines—all from the comfort of your home. You can mix and match your favorite boutique-style bottles for the ultimate customized wine collection. Be sure to grab a Wine Cooler Sleeve to keep your bottles perfectly chilled when you’re on the go.

What are you waiting for? Shop the Cellar Collection today to stock up on your favorite wine bottles and all types of wine glasses.

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