Custom, common sense and personal taste all play a part in choosing the right serving temperature for wine.
By OFER ZEMACH3 white wines 298 88(photo credit: )
There are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to the right serving temperature for wine, just guidelines and personal preference. Custom, common sense and personal taste all play a part.
Generally, white wines, rosés and sparkling wines taste best chilled, 10° to 14°, but not ice-cold. An hour or two in the refrigerator is plenty of time to chill a bottle. If a bottle has been refrigerated for a long time, consider taking it out of the refrigerator 15 or 20 minutes before serving. Red wines are recommended to be served at room temperature, but weather sure plays a factor. With hot days of summer already here, my suggestion is to serve all wines, reds and white, a bit cooler than usual. Listed below are two refreshing local whites strengthened by a new immigrant wine from Alsace, as well as one red packed with Galilean flavors.
Dalton, Sauvignon Blanc Fume, 2006: Beautiful and high toned aromas of citrus and melon drizzled with spices and smoky oak. This is an easy drinking wine, nicely balanced, crisp and clean with an incredible finish. NIS 39
This is a very elegant wine, with lots of style and power in the glass. I found it refreshingly dry and complex, not a fruit bomb. One sip is not enough. A bottle may be. NIS 65
Galil Mountain, Pinot Noir, 2005: Don't let the light color of this Pinot Noir fool you into thinking that it isn't packed with flavor. In general Pinot Noir is a wine that really benefits from some breathing time. It takes its time in the glass teasing you with its aromas before revealing its full bouquet.
Light to medium bodied, this wine has a silky mouthfeel and delivers plenty of cherry and toasted oak flavors that linger. Dry and well structured, it has supple tannins and good acidity for dining. NIS 65
Hakarem company is now importing a wonderful white wine from France, Pinot Gris, 2005, Alsace: A wonderful summer wine produced by Pfaffenheim, one of the leading wine cooperatives in Alsace.
Alsace Pinot Gris is very different to that produced elsewhere, having more weight and flavor. This wine is dominated by apples and pears on both nose and palate, but moderated by a dry, mineral feel. Tastes, in a way, like a still version of very nice Champagne. For NIS 79 it offers a great value for money. (not kosher)
ofer@jpost.com
