What temperature should: 1. Dessert Wine 2. Ice Wine 3. Fruit Wine-Port Style be served at? Is it different for white and red (i.e. pinot gris and merlot?) Also, should the glasses be chilled? Thanks!
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
There is no precise temperature at which certain types of wines should be consumed.
Here are some general guidlines in answer to your specific choices:
1. Dessert wines - whites, that is - are best served chilled, but not icy cold, or the subtleties will be lost.
2. Ice wines should be treated in the same manner as white dessert wines in general.
3. Port wines are normally served at room temperature. In Portugal, in the Douro Valley where Port is grown, the growers themselves often serve Tawny Port chilled, particularly Ten Year Tawnies. As far as "fruit" (ie, other than grape) wines are concerned, some may in fact be more enjoyable chilled.
White wines are usually served chilled, and reds at room temperature (although not warm). These are common practices, not rules, and some light, young reds show very well when fairly cool.
I personally do not like chilled glasses. When you put glasses into the fridge, they tend to pick up off odors. Chill the wine, not the glass, is my suggestion.
