Like all aspects of enjoying wine, there are many different ways to serve wine to get the best result. There are a number of considerations when serving wine.
Wine Temperature
Different styles of wine taste better at different temperatures. The exact same white or red, poured straight from the fridge will taste differently when served at either room or cellar temperature. By getting the wine temperature right at the time of serving you will get the optimal experience of the subtle aromas and flavours that have been carefully balanced by the winemaker.
Beware of over chilling white wines. It is best to chill white and sparkling wine in an ice bucket mixed with ice and water for 30 minutes before serving. Avoid leaving white wine in the fridge for too long and do not cool sparkling wines in the freezer.
The guideline of serving red wines at room temperature stems from the Northern Hemisphere and unfortunately doesn′t hold true in the hot Australian summers. Red wines should be served between 11-18 degrees Celsius (11-14 degrees for light-bodied reds and 14-18 degrees for full-bodied reds). It is fine to cool red wines to the correct temperature by placing them in the fridge approximately half an hour before serving.
Opening the wine
The most challenging wine to open is undoubtedly sparkling wine. Make sure a glass is nearby to pour the overflow into, twist the bottle slowly (not the cork) and ensure your hand is over the end of the cork.
For still wines with a cork, cut the capsule on the ridge just below the top and clean off any residual cork with a cloth. Screw a good corkscrew well into the cork, take care not to push through to the bottom. Remove the cork slowly and clean inside the neck of the bottle with a cloth to remove any sediment or cork particles.
Wine decanting
It is not necessary to decanter every wine you drink however for red wines that have been cellared it is a good idea. Decanting loosens, warms and opens up a red wine. It also is a great way to get rid of the sediment. During decanting, wine absorbs oxygen which acts as a stimulant and assists in bringing out the aroma, flavour and character of the wine.
Serving wine in the right glassware
Glassware cannot change the wine itself but it certainly can impact on your enjoyment of and perception of the wine. Wine can ultimately be consumed from any glass but the ideal glassware enables you to; see the wine (is clear in nature), make seamless contact with the wine (is not too thick) and has a stem that enables you to hold the wine comfortably without affecting the temperature of the wine.