By Ray Spaziani
Wine Talk
Ray Spaziani
Europeans claim we Americans drink our white wines too cold and our red wines too warm. I am slowly starting to agree with them.
In restaurants, when I order white wines I shun the waiter with his carafe full of ice and let the wine sit for a while. Even more important is how the wine is stored and at what temperature. Storing the wine properly is crucial to maximum enjoyment. However, with so many wines out there it becomes difficult to know what to do and how to do it.
Wines should always be stored in a cool, dark place without much temperature variation and with the humidity around 60 percent. The area should be free of vibration. If you drink your wines quickly, this is much easier to do. However, if you are starting to collect some wines and pull them out when you make your favorite dish or when a good friend comes by for dinner, this becomes more important.
The optimum storage temperature differs for each kind of wine. There are consequences for improper storage of wine. The wine will turn bad over time. More bitter tannins can develop, as well as a reduction of the potency and the possibility of the growth of bacteria.
Big red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Burgundy can be kept at relatively high temperatures – about 63 degrees. Bigger reds can be kept at a couple degrees higher. This would include Bordeaux, Shiraz and Petite Syrah. This is considered cool room temperature in Europe. Fortified wines like Madeira and Ports can be stored a degree or two higher. Lighter red wines such as Merlot and Pinot Noir can be stored between 55 and 60 degrees.
Note that there is not much difference. The more full-bodied the wine, the higher the temperature. The lighter the wine, the lower.
Rose wines are middle-of-the-road wines. The same basic principle applies. The darker Roses should be kept around 55 degrees. The lighter Roses should be closer to 50 degrees.
White wines are similar in nature. The dryer white wines can handle 50-53 degrees. Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are examples of such wines. Their fruitier counterparts need to be even cooler, around 47 degrees. These would include Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris.
Sparkling wines need to be stored cold. Most of the varieties should be stored between 40 and 45 degrees. These wines have become very popular over the last few years. Prosecco and Muscato have especially grown in popularity. These wines can be kept at around 42 degrees. Champagnes can be stored at about 44 degrees.
Proper storage of wines will ensure they remain enjoyable and keep their flavors for many years. If you are getting into several different types of wine, you may look into a wine fridge. You can set different wines at different temperatures and store them for long periods.
They stay wonderfully and retain their fantastic characteristics for a long time.
When I think of older wines I always think of a wonderful speech that Virginia Madsen made. She was playing the part of Maya in the 2004 movie Sideways. She said when she tried an older wine, she thought of the people who carefully picked the grapes, what the weather was like then, what life was like then and how they worked so hard to capture a little sunlight that has been gone for so many years. However, there was just a little left in her glass. Store your wines carefully and enjoy some of that captured sunlight.
Ray Spaziani is the chapter director of the New Haven chapter of the American Wine Society. He is on the tasting panels of Winemaker Magazine and Amate del Vino and is a certified wine educator and award-winning home winemaker. Email Ray with your wine questions or activities at realestatepro1000@gmail.com.