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Serving wine at the right temperature can make all the difference to your enjoyment. Follow our simple guide to discover what temperature to serve red, white, rosé, sparkling and dessert wines.
The facts at a glance
Here are the serving temperatures for the most popular wine types
Aromatic white wines between 8 and9°C
Rich white wines between 10 and12°C
Rosé wines between 9 and12°C
Light to medium reds between 12 and15°C
Full bodied reds between 15 and18°C
Sparkling wines between 8 and9°C
Sweet wines between 5 and7°C
Read on for a more detailed explanation.
Why is wine temperature important?
Serving white, rosé, and red wine at the right temperature is critical to unlocking the full experience. The temperature at which a wine is served can significantly influence how it smells and tastes. A wine that’s too warm may taste lacklustre and dull, while serving wine too cold can suppress its distinctive flavours. Both scenarios can mean you miss out on what makes that wine unique.
There’s plenty of conflicting advice about the perfect temperature for serving wine. Our handy guide seeks to make things simple, so no matter the wine you’re serving, you and your guests can enjoy it in all its glory.
Red wine serving temperature
Generally, red wines should be served between 12-18°C, depending on their style.
Light reds, such as Gamay and Pinot Noir, are best around 12-13°C. Pop them in the fridge for 15-20 minutes before pouring.
Medium-bodied reds, including Sangiovese and Merlot, should be served in the 13-15°C range.
Full-bodied reds, like Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, shine around 15-18°C – often a tad cooler than typical room temperature. Broadly speaking, the more robust your red, the warmer it should be served as cooler temperatures can heighten their oaky and tannic profiles.
So how to get those temperatures right?
Decanting robust reds is a great way to bring them to room temperature, allowing them to fully release their wonderful aromas.
While it might seem odd to refrigerate a red wine, lighter and fruit-forward reds can benefit from a chill in the fridge or a swift dunk in a bucket of ice and water, especially during a sizzling summer day.
If you’ve served a red too cold, this can easily be fixed by holding your glass in your hands to warm it up. On the other hand, if you notice a pronounced aroma of alcohol when you take a whiff, the wine might be too warm and could use a brief stint in the fridge.
Explore our extensive collection of red wines to discover your ideal bottle.
White wine serving temperature
The refrigerator is your friend for white wines, which are at their best when chilled. Typically, white wine shines when served between 7-13°C, depending on its style.
Light and medium-bodied whites such as Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc flourish between 8-9°C, ensuring their acidity and flavours remain crisp. So chill in the fridge for at least 45 minutes before serving. Perhaps it has something to do with the cool climates the grape thrives in, but wines like Riesling taste best when served very cold, ideally at around 7°C.
Full-bodied whites with a more textured feel, like Chardonnay and Viognier, or whites with a touch of oak can be served slightly warmer, around 10-13°C. Give them a cool-down in the fridge for about 20-30 minutes before pouring.
As a general rule, the cooler the serving temperature, the more pronounced a white wine’s acidity becomes – perfect for your glass of Riesling or Pinot Grigio. But this could be less ideal for a Chardonnay, which thrives with a bit more warmth, allowing it to truly sing in the glass.
In the mood for a white wine? Browse our selection of white wines today.
Rosé wine serving temperature
Who doesn’t enjoy a glass of super cold rosé on a sweltering summer’s day? Just be sure not to over chill and hide those subtle red fruit flavours. You might find your vibrant pink turns into a more muted drink.
Instead, serve your rosé wine much like a white – aiming for a temperature between 7-13°C with a 20-30 minute chill in the fridge before serving. This allows you to savour a refreshingly cool wine while letting those berry flavours shine through.
Much like a full-bodied white, leaving your cooled rosé bottle on the table post-pour is an excellent way to let it gradually unveil its flavour as it slightly warms.
Fancy a glass or two of pink? Discover our range of rosés from around the world.
Sparkling wine temperature
For the ideal refreshment and taste, bubbly should typically be served quite cold – around 3-7°C, based on the specific style.
With its light and breezy character, Prosecco is best when almost ice-cold, whereas Champagne should be a touch warmer to fully showcase its complexity. Vintage Champagne should be served at a higher temperature among sparkling wines, akin to how you'd treat a full-bodied white.
Give your sparkling wine a good 30-40 minutes in the fridge before serving. Between pours, either return your sparkling wine to the fridge door or nestle it in an ice bucket to maintain that perfect chill.
Fancy a refreshing fizz for your next do? Browse our smashing sparkling wines to find the bottle for you.
Dessert or sweet wine temperature
Dessert wines should typically be served quite cold – around 5-7°C. Any warmer and the sweetness in the wine may become cloying.
For dessert wines such as Sauternes, Tokaji, Moscatel or sweet Riesling, refrigerate for a good two hours and serve straight after you’ve removed the bottle from the fridge.
How to measure white, rosé and red wine temperature
Knowing the right temperature can be challenging with terms such as 'room temperature' flying around.
Given that an average room temperature changes based on the season, environment and heating or air conditioning (to name just a few), knowing what that means for serving wine can be tricky. As a broad guideline, even the most robust reds should not be served above 20°C.
By following our advice here, you can be sure you’re serving your wine at the perfect temperature. But, if you’re keen to get your white or red wine temperature bang on, you can invest in a wine thermometer, which you can buy online for around £7.
The best storage temperature for wine
Most wines benefit from being stored on their side at a constant temperature – around 13°C. They risk being ‘cooked’ if kept in warm environments, so to keep wines in tip-top condition, avoid storing them near the radiator or oven.
A wine fridge or cooler can help keep your wine at the correct temperature. Some have single temperature options, while others offer dual temperature or multiple temperature zones. Single-zone wine coolers are good for long-term storage – set the temperature to 13°C. With a dual-temperature wine fridge, you can set a colder temperature in one area to chill wines before serving.
Shop our full selection of red, white, rosé, and sparkling wine to discover your favourite.
About the author
Brogan Wilson
Qualified to WSET Level 2 Wine, Brogan is a relatively new member of the team, having joined in September 2023. She previously worked as the sole copywriter at a creative marketing agency, and before that, as a primary school teacher. At Laithwaites HQ, you’ll find her growing her knowledge, asking lots of questions, and crafting both digital and print copy. An ardent red wine drinker, Brogan is also fond of Crémant.
