Tips for Serving Wine at Home
We all love to enjoy a good glass of wine, but there are a few simple tricks to serving it that can completely elevate the experience. These three tips will help you serve wine like a seasoned professional at home. Time to plan your next dinner party!
1. Make sure you’re serving wine at the right temperature
A common misconception is that white wines should be served straight from the refrigerator and red wines should be served at room temperature. In reality, those temperatures are too extreme for most wines.
White Wine: Serve 50–55°F
The temperature in most refrigerators is around 40°F, which is too cold for many white wines. When wine is too cold, its flavors can be muted. Serving Kerr Cellars white wines at 50–55°F, especially in the summer months, keeps them refreshing and bright while allowing their aromas and flavors to fully express themselves.
Red Wine: Serve at 60°F
Most Kerr Cellars red wines are best served around 60°F, while room temperature often ranges between 68–75°F. Serving reds slightly chilled allows them to warm gradually to room temperature, revealing more complexity and texture as they open. Serving red wines too warm can diminish their freshness and character.
Tip: If you don’t have a wine fridge or temperature-controlled storage, place a bottle of Kerr Cellars red in the fridge door for about 45 minutes before serving.
2. Decant your wine
Decanting can serve two purposes: removing sediment and aerating the wine.
Sediment, more common in older wines, can be left behind by standing the bottle upright for a day or two, then slowly pouring into a clean glass container, stopping just before the sediment reaches the neck.
Younger wines may also benefit from decanting, even without sediment. Aeration allows the bouquet to open and the flavors to integrate. Even some full-bodied white wines benefit from decanting, both for the aeration and the beautiful presentation.
Tip: Wines don’t need to be decanted for hours. A light splash into a decanter and about 30 minutes of oxygenation is often enough.
3. Choose the right glassware
White wines don’t always need smaller glasses than reds. Aromatic whites can be just as expressive as reds, so using a rounded burgundy glass for a Kerr Cellars Rued Vineyard Chardonnay works just as well as it does for a 2018 Manzanita Pinot Noir. Bordeaux glasses are equally versatile for Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Tip: Quality glassware doesn’t have to be expensive. Look for glasses that are functional, lightweight, and thin.
Cleaning your Glassware:
Always wash wine glasses by hand, avoiding the dishwasher. Use minimal dish soap, rinse thoroughly with hot water, and dedicate a sponge for glass rims. Rinse again, then allow glasses to air dry upright on their stems to avoid moisture buildup and odors. Once partially dry, polish them before storing.
Tip: Avoid storing glasses in their original box to prevent them from absorbing unwanted odors.
Tip: Use two cloths when polishing—one holding the stem, the other polishing the rim—turning them in the same direction. This reduces the risk of breakage and provides better protection in case a glass snaps.
We hope these tips inspire you to create an even better wine experience at home. The next time you open a bottle of Kerr Cellars, you’ll be ready to serve it at its absolute best.
