White wine should be served cold and red wine at a room temperature. Is this what you have been taught? But it’s not quite so simple. Each wine needs its special temperature to release its flavor and aroma.
White wines
The best temperature for tasting white Moravian wines is about 10∞ – 12∞C, as they have just been brought from a cold cellar.
Under 10∞C wines are disharmonious, indefinite, don’t emit aroma and flavor and they seem to be bland. Basically we feel in mouth only cold drink and don’t even know that we are drinking wine.
Conversely over 12°C alcohol prevails and wine may seem stronger, unbalanced in flavor, sometimes it can even be sharp and fiery.
So if you really want to enjoy wine, it is good to know its temperature to avoid needlessly loss of its fullness and bouquet, which can only develop at the correct temperature. This is especially true with spicy wines such as Gewürztraminer and Kerner.
Red wines
For Moravian red wines the recommended temperature for serving is between 14° – 16°C. If the temperature of red wine is under 12∞C, it is completely closed, aroma cannot be prononced, it is more tart and coarse. On the other hand over 16°C Moravian red wines taste bitterly and mainly the alcohol steps off. Only some lighter red wines, such as Blauer Potrugieser, can withstand lower temperatures below 12 °C, especially in the summer, they are pleasantly fresh.
Even in the relatively high-quality restaurants, you can meet with the fact that they bring you the red wine chilled or supercool – it’s quite a shame.
Desert liqueur wines
They should be served in the same temperature as white wines. Vermouth wines are usually so full in aroma and flavor, that they can withstand even a slightly lower temperature.
How is it abroad?
It is slightly shifted abroad. Frenchmen drink their red treasures ordinarily around 20°C. In Italy their well-known Barollo is recommended to drink even at 22°C and their sweet Muscats at 14°C.
Table for a quick orientation
Of course it is important to realize that the recommended temperatures are stated for the direct drinking of wine. You have to take into consideration the temperature of the room. If we want to keep in warm room the right temperature of white wine it has to be place into fridge again.
Pay strong attention primarily to sudden and abrupt changes of temperature, which may cause turn of flavor in wine. So never heat cooled wine in hot water, you could hurt it badly.
I hope that you again slightly widen your knowledge and you will always enjoy a maximum of tasted wines thanks to the correct temperature of serving.