Serving Wine

When it comes to your special occasion, you not only need to choose an appropriate wine, but you also need to make sure that you serve it appropriately. There are a few simple techniques that you can use to make sure that your wine is served appropriately. The exact requirements vary for each variety of wine, so make sure that you know the exact wine you are serving when you decide how to best present it.

Type of Wine

The type of wine that you choose to serve should be based on the food that you are serving. In generally, fish, poultry, and pork work well with a white wine, whereas red meat and pasta with hearty red sauces work well with red wines. Champagne , White Zinfandel, and Riesling all are very safe choices since they all work well with just about anything that you choose to serve. Ultimately, the type of wine that you choose to serve should be one that you personally enjoy. Your personal enjoyment is much more important than trying to follow specific what goes with what guidelines, but do make sure that your wine does not overpower your menu. Instead, it should compliment it.

Wine Glasses

The shape of your wine glass should match the type of wine that you choose to serve. Champagne glasses are tall and narrow to help the carbonation to stay in the wine as well as to enjoy how the bubbles look. Red wine should be served in a glass that has a larger bowl so that its bouquet can be enjoyed. This bowl shape also helps the wine to stay at the appropriate temperature. White wine glasses have a smaller bowl than a red wine glass, but are wider than a champagne glass. This helps the wine to stay at the appropriate temperature as well as guides the wine to the appropriate place in your mouth to best experience this type of wine.

Wine Temperature

The temperature of your wine when it is served is of great importance. Red wines are to be enjoyed at room temperature, so no chilling is necessary. In fact, chilling red wine actually ruins its taste. Champagne is best around 45 degrees at serving time, so a plunge in the ice bucket is very beneficial. White wine should also be chilled to best appreciate its flavors. 1-2 hours in the refrigerator right before serving should do the trick without making it too cold for appropriate consumption.