There’s nothing like a glass of white wine to pair with your favorite dishes. However, if you’re new to the world of white wine you might be curious to know: Should white wine be chilled?
In this article, I cover some key information about the temperatures white wine should be chilled at. So, next time you have guests over on the weekend you can enjoy a glass of white wine at the optimal temperature.
Keep reading to find out more to serve you favourite white wine at the right temperature as red wine and white wine require different serving temperatures.
Should white wine be chilled?
Yes, different wines types of white wines should be chilled, but they should be chilled at slightly different temperatures. This applies for white wine as well as for red wine.
Not all wines should be chilled to the same temperature because of their chemical composition. Many factors determine the specific type of wine’s ideal temperature.
The acidity of a white wines, or fuller bodied whites and their weight can all make a difference and be affected by a serving temperature that is too warm or too cold.
Influence of Temperature on the Acidity of white wine
While a white wine might compliment a dish, the wrong temperature can diminish the acidity and affect the overall taste of the wine.
The backbone of a white wine is acidity. As a general rule, while it is generally safe to say that all white wines should be chilled, the perfect temperature serves to better accentuate the acidity and the fruit flavors of the specific wine.
Colder temperatures can be used to reduce sweetness of red wines or white wines which is caused by residual sugar.
Light fruity white wine
Lighter, fruitier wines taste best at a colder temperature, between 45°F and 50°F, or after being chilled for two hours in the refrigerator. This temperature serves to ensure the wine remains refreshing and sharp.
Additionally, white wines such as Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc also fall in this temperature range.
White wine with a high acidity
High acid white wines, on the other hand, are best served at 45°F. These include Chablis and Muscadet wines. If they are served at a warmer temperature, the acidity is diminished, which could be especially noticeable when paired with certain dishes.
Bearing this in mind, you will need to take note of the type of wine and chill it in accordance with that.
Sparkling wine
The serving temperature for sparkling wine is at 10-12°C. Depending on the type of sparkling wine and your personal taste the serving temperature can be at higher or lower temperature. To find out more take a quick look at our serving temperature table,
How do you chill white wine?
The best way to chill wine is to place them in a wine fridge or even a dual zone wine cooler. This allows you to store the wine at proper serving temperature in your wine cellar.
The difference between a wine refrigerator and a kitchen refrigerator is that a wine cooler is working at higher temperatures (8-15°C) than a classic fridge which runs at lower temperatures (4°C). This helps to preserve delicate aromas. Therefore it`s the perfect choice for wine lovers.
If you don`t have a wine cooler you can use a normal fridge but you need to plan ahead when it comes to chilling wine and to serve it at the ideal temperature. The best and easiest option is to place your bottle of white wine in the fridge 2-2.5 hours before you’re ready to serve, depending on the type of wine.
This is a much easier method to get your wine to the perfect temperature than to keep it in the fridge and then letting it warm up to the ideal temperature.
Chilling Methods to Chill White Wine Quickly
When you`re short on chilling time you need to act differently but you`re going to be able to reach the ideal temperature. Find out hot to chill white wine quickly!
Freezer
However, if you’re short on chilling time before your guests arrive, you can place the wine in the freezer for about 20-25 minutes. Just be sure to remove it from the freezer within the time limit to serve it at ideal temperature.
Do not let the wine freeze as this can destroy the bottle. In the case of sparkling wines your favorite drink will go flat if you freeze it as the carbon dioxide separates from the liquid!
Ice Bath
You can chill wine quickly by submerging the bottle in an ice bucket with ice water and salt. Grab a bucket or container, and add salt, water, and ice. Keep in mind to wipe the wine bottle as it`s covered with salt.
Ice absorbs heat from the water, which brings the temperature down. The salt brings the freezing point of water below 32˚F. Just be sure to submerge the bottle fully in the ice, or it won’t chill evenly.
Wine chiller
You can use a wine chiller or a cooling sleeve to give your wine a slight chill but at just the right temperature. We recommend to use it in summer to keep red wines, especially fuller bodied wines like cabernet sauvignon at best temperature.
Ice cubes
While it is often frowned upon, you can always add an ice cube or two to the glass if the wine isn’t chilled enough. That being said, while ice cubes will chill your wine, they also dilute the taste.
Reusable ice cubes
To prevent to water down your wine, you can purchase metal wine stones, which you keep in your freezer, and add to a glass of wine to chill it without diluting it.
However, as an alternative to ice, if you have some frozen grapes in your freezer, add a few of those to the wine glass instead as needed.
Frozen grapes work to keep your wine chilled without it becoming diluted with water as the ice melts, and they are fun and refreshing to eat as well!
In summary
Yes, white wine should be chilled. However, the temperature will depend on the type of white wine that you are chilling. Additionally, how long you chill your white wine will depend on the method that you are using to chill the wine.
It’s best to keep your wine on a wine rack in a cool place and chill it a few hours before you are ready to serve it depending on the type of wine.
