Why does white wine need to be refrigerated

Get in the habit of saving your wine for later by recorking after each glass now instead of leaving the bottle open on the counter for hours. PLUS, your wine will stay fresher throughout the evening. Also, go ahead and add some stoppers to your Amazon cart. While you will most likely end up needing to dump it, pour yourself a glass before you send it to the sink.

First, take a look at the color. When she's not writing, she's trying to keep up with her border collie, Emmy. Does it matter what type of wine it is?

The color of a wine gone bad will depend on what type it is. For red wine, if the color has turned brownish, it might be time to pour it down the drain. For white, if the color has turned a dark or deep yellow—even brownish—then the wine has gone bad. Yep, you're going to be sniffing this wine like you would when making sure that leftover Chinese food is still good.

For a better point of reference, you can compare it to the smells of a musty basement, vinegar, wet cardboard, or a raisin. Finally, consider the taste. This should be one of the easiest ways to tell right away if things have turned funky. Consider it your audition tape for Fear Factor. Do you prefer dry whites or sweet, rich whites? At this temperature, the aromatics and flavors can come through while the acidity gives a crispness to the finish without becoming overpowering.

Sweet, rich wines should be served slightly warmer at about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Any warmer and the sweetness of the wine will overshadow the mineral qualities. You can chill white wine in the refrigerator for about two hours or in the freezer for 20 minutes.

To make sure your white is perfectly ready for your enjoyment, we love this wine thermometer that doubles as a gorgeous bottle opener. Traditionally delivered and served from an ice bucket, sparkling wines are often served colder than their non-bubbly siblings. The ideal temperature for sparkling wines is between 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. To get it there, toss a room temperature bottle in your refrigerator for about two and a half hours or in the freezer for about 25 minutes.

Then set the bottle on the table for just a couple minutes before opening. In most cases, your wine glasses are going to be warmer than you want to serve your wine. A dramatic temperature difference can quickly change the temperature - and therefore the experience - of your wine. Use glasses with stems so the person enjoying the wine can hold the glass without his or her hand warming the cup.

While reds can be served in stemless glasses, using a stemmed glass will keep your red from becoming too warm. Chill them in the fridge for 2 to 5 minutes - just enough to maintain that perfect red temperature.