How to Serve and Store Wine and Beer

All varietals of wines should be stored in a cool, dark place preferably at cave temperature which is 58 degrees Fahrenheit.  However, most of us don’t have a location that is 58 degrees Fahrenheit, so try to find a dark and cooler place in the house like a closet or if you have a cellar or basement those are generally great locations too.  Do not store wine in your refrigerator.  When serving wine they should be served at the proper temperature to enjoy the true flavor of the wine.

Red and White Wine:  about 58 degrees Fahrenheit
Rosé wine and Sparkling wines: about 48 degrees Fahrenheit

I know the temperatures may be contradicting to what most say and do at restaurants and that is to serve red wine at room temperature and anything white in nature icy cold and perhaps in an ice bucket.  No need to break out the thermometer to check the temperatures of the wine – I never have!

For whites that that were placed in the fridge for too long and have become too cold, leave on the counter for about 20 minutes and for reds that have not been stored at cave temperature put in the fridge for about 20 minutes.  For Rosé wines and Sparkling wines that have not been stored at cave temperature refrigerate for about 30 – 40 minutes or if they were placed in the fridge for too long and are icy cold leave on the counter for about 30 minutes.  Times will vary depending on the temperature of your home and your refrigerator.

So what should I do with it after I open it and don’t drink all the wine?  For all wines, seal with a cork or something similar to prevent very little air from entering the bottle and store in the fridge not on the kitchen counter.  These two key tricks will hinder quite a bit of bacteria from forming in the wines and keep them tasting fresh longer.  These tricks will also work with sparkling wines so you can enjoy the bubbles the next day!  Also don’t forget about beer, corking it in its bottle and refrigeration will help preserve it until the next day.

Beers work the same way as wine depending on the type and since there are so many varieties it would be hard to go through all of them.  However, most beer should be served at about 40 degrees Fahrenheit.  However, there is nothing better than an icy cold Bud Light on a hot summer day!  For these types of beers I do recommend them icy cold.