Many recommend serving red wines at "room temperature," but that ambiguity has led to many a poor showing. Before central heating become the norm, room temperature might have been closer to about 60-65°F or 16-18°C. This is in fact an ideal rule-of-thumb temperature for the service of red wines.
For white wines, the range is large, primarily because the range of styles is broad as well. The fridge is too cool for white wines to really express themselves.
Applying the 20-minute rule will help you serve your wine at the correct temperature. For a red wine, put it in the fridge for 20 minutes before service. Conversely, for a white wine, take the bottle out of the fridge 20 minutes before service to take the icy edge off.
For white wines, the range is large, primarily because the range of styles is broad as well. The fridge is too cool for white wines to really express themselves.
Applying the 20-minute rule will help you serve your wine at the correct temperature. For a red wine, put it in the fridge for 20 minutes before service. Conversely, for a white wine, take the bottle out of the fridge 20 minutes before service to take the icy edge off.
