Best in Class
We are sharing our top 3 tips to amplify your wine serving skills and approach the responsibility of wine server with confidence. Find out how to be the Best in Class and the official wine aficionado.
La Crema can be shared with all – the list is endless – and if you find yourself as the person pouring a glass or serving friends, we want to help you be the Best in Class and the official wine aficionado. We are sharing some tips to amplify your wine serving skills and approach the responsibility of wine server with confidence.
SERVING IN IDEAL GLASSWARE
It starts with the glassware! Did you know that each wine has an ideal glass shape? Selecting the best glass for each wine will make a big difference and our recommendation for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are as followed. For Chardonnay, we suggest serving in a smaller bowled glass to preserve the fresh, delicate aromas and maintain temperature (a topic we will get to later). A point to note, this glass shape is a shared recommendation across all white wines so you can leverage with our Monterey Pinot Gris and Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc as well. As we think about the delicate yet flavorful Pinot Noir, this variety is best served with a slightly larger bowled glass. The larger surface area and wider opening make the wine taste smoother allows flavors to jump out of the glass.
PAIRING TIPS TO SERVE YOUR WINE
Now that you have the glassware covered, here are some food pairing suggestions that will enhance the wine experience for yourself and your guests. Try pairing Chardonnay, the classic white wine, with lighter-hued foods, such as chicken, turkey, pork, halibut, crab, and shrimp. A great option that we love are chicken lettuce cups. Shifting to red wine, Pinot Noir is extremely food-friendly so we recommend pairing dishes with pork, duck, salmon, bacon, mushrooms, and pizza – better yet, mushroom pizza would be amazing!
MASTERING WINE TEMPERATURE
Our last serving tip relates to the ideal temperature for wine. There are nuances across varieties. Serving wine at the recommended temperature brings out its intended flavor profile, character, and bouquet by ensuring that the wine displays a balance of aroma, flavor, structure, and alcohol. Serve wine too cold or too warm…and you’ll miss out.
If the wine is too cold, it will mask the aromas and flavors. If the wine is too warm, it will lack structure and acidity. Also, remember that “room temperature” referred to drafty stone castles, not modern insulated homes. Cool room temperature red wines in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes before serving. The ideal temperature for an oaked Chardonnay is 54 degrees and for a Pinot Noir is 63 degrees.
Wine Storage
The temperature guidelines above work for serving wine, but what about storing wine? If you are storing wines for any length of time, keep both red and white wines at 55 degrees. Your kitchen counter (at a generous 70+ degrees) is far too warm! For storage, you want:
- Consistent temperatures – the mid-50s is best
- Humidity between 50 – 80%
- Protection from UV Rays
- Avoid excess vibration/movement
- An odorless environment.
Are you a La Crema fan and interested in purchasing a wine fridge? La Crema has partnered with Wine Enthusiast to offer Best in Class wine storage solutions to our club members. And it’s just one of the many perks of being a La Crema Wine Club Member.
We hope you enjoyed some of these tips to enhance your wine serving experience and build confidence in pouring a glass of wine – hopefully, that includes many of ours.
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