Storing Wine: To Chill Or Not To Chill
ShareLike an other food or drink, the temperature at which you store and enjoy wine can have a profound influence on your experience with it.
Does Temperature Really Effect Taste?
Yes! And this is hardly unique. Milk is enjoyed both heated and cold, depending on preference, season and time of day. Coffee and tea are apt examples too. For both, temperature plays a big role in taste, refreshment, and food compatibility.
Temperature also affects our ability to experience the unique tastes of wine. If a wine is too cold, flavors are not accessible; you simply sense the chill, the weight and a faint smell. Colas carry super-high flavor and sugar levels to compensate for this affect, and if out too long, they become a syrupy mess. A wine’s taste also suffers from too warm a temperature, turning it heavy or unbalanced, even causing a slight burn. In short, your experience of a particular wine can vary widely depending upon the temperature at which you serve it.
The Moral of The Storage Story?
Wine, like most beverages, should be served at the temperature that best brings out its flavor and balance.