johbot wrote:There is no way that anyone sane would want to drink 'room temperature' beverages when the ambient temperature is in the 40s Celsius. On days like that, even my red wine goes in the fridge for a lie down before dinner.
Actually red wines should be served at a lower temperature that the 'modern room'. Most reds taste best below 18°C (65°F) or more specifically;
Beaujolais, Nebbiolo, Port, light and fruity reds 12° - 15°
Simple Pinot Noirs, light Rioja, Argentine Tempranillo 15° - 17°
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, Shiraz, big Zinfandel 17°- 20°
etc.
In other words, the better (and likely more expensive) the wine the higher the temperature, but never above 20°(68°F)! Red wine needs to be warm enough to experience all of the flavors, but cool enough to be refreshing.
Cheers