Storing & Serving Wines

So you've picked out a bottle of wine and brought it home. Now what?

While some wine enthusiasts go to great lengths to cellar and serve wine, all you really need to do is follow some basic guidelines. Enhance your enjoyment of wine with these simple tips for storing and serving.

Aging: Many people think they must "age" wine after purchasing it. This assumption is almost always untrue. If you buy a wine, it is ready to consume.

Storing: Wine should usually be stored in a cool place away from direct sunlight, with the bottles on their sides to keep the corks moistened. After opening a bottle, the wine will usually keep for several days if re-corked and refrigerated.

Opening: Red wines should be opened about an hour before serving to allow them to "breathe," or mix with the air to develop their full aroma and flavor. White wines and champagnes should be opened just before serving. Twist the bottle, not the cork.

Glasses: Wine glasses come in many shapes and sizes. The best glasses for red wine have a large circular bowl, while tulip-shaped glasses are ideal for white wine. Champagne glasses should be tall and thin to retain those precious bubbles.

Pouring: Wine glasses should be filled only halfway. Much of the wine's pleasure comes from its aroma, which should be allowed to develop in the top half of the glass.

How many glasses of wine are there in a bottle?

There are 5 5-ounce glasses in a 750 ml bottle.
There are 10 5-ounce glasses in a 1.5 liter bottle.

Serving Temperatures

Have you ever wondered at what temperature wine should be served?

The fact is that serving temperatures have a profound effect on how wine smells and tastes. In general, the colder the wine, the more its aromas will be locked into it; as the wine warms up, more aromas become perceptible.

You'll also find that wine tastes less acidic at low temperatures, that sweet wines taste sweeter at higher temperatures, and that slightly sweet wines taste dry when served cold.

Serve your wine at the appropriate temperature to bring out its best characteristics.