Should pinot noir be chilled? It’s a red wine typically not served cold, but how can you know for sure? We have the answer! This article will explain the optimal temperature for serving pinot noir and other helpful information.
To answer your question quickly: yes, pinot noir is best when slightly chilled.
Keep reading to learn more about chilling pinot noir and how to serve a delicious glass of this red wine variety.
A Bit About Pinot Noir
Pinot noir is a popular red wine made from a thin-skinned grape variety, resulting in a lighter color. This is a dry wine that can be light to medium-bodied. It’s often bright and mildly acidic, with smooth tannins and an ABV between 12% and 15%.
Pinot noir wine has complex flavor profiles. Common flavor notes in a pinot noir include cherry, raspberry, mushroom, moss, vanilla, winter spices, oak, oud, and other earthy hints.
The flavor is elegant and delicate, which is why it’s a popular choice among people who prefer light red wines over heavy, full-bodied varieties. It also leans toward the dry side of the spectrum, so it’s not as sweet or sugary as wines like zinfandel.
Optimal Pinot Noir Serving Temperature
The ideal temperature to serve pinot noir is 55ºF or 13ºC. This temperature range is ideal for red pinot noirs, which is the most common type of pinot noir.
However, there are other varieties of pinot noir, such as pinot noir rose and pinot noir rose pet-nat. The two varieties mentioned are roses rather than reds, so they are best served at a cooler temperature, usually between 40ºF and 50ºF or 4ºC and 10ºC.
Red wines can be served between 50ºF and 65ºF, but the light acidity of pinot noir means the flavor is richer and more refined when served at a slightly lower temperature. It’s easier to detect the intricate flavor notes and subtle hints at this lower temperature.
How to Chill Pinot Noir
Chilling a bottle of wine may seem straightforward, but there are wrong and right ways to do it.
The ideal way to chill a bottle of pinot noir is to stand it upright or on its side in a refrigerator for 10 to 20 minutes. Do not put the bottle in the freezer or leave it in a regular kitchen fridge overnight. Some people will leave a bottle in the refrigerator overnight and then let it sit out for 20 to 30 minutes before serving.
While this is one way to reach the optimal serving temperature, it’s best not to leave red wine in a kitchen fridge overnight. The bottle may become too cold, meaning you won’t be able to taste the flavor notes properly and appreciate the complexity of the wine.
Other Pinot Noir Serving Tips
If you want to optimize your pinot noir experience, below are a few serving tips to ensure you properly appreciate this fabulous wine. All wines have different serving protocols, so keep these tips handy for your next bottle of pinot noir.
Opening: The best pinot noirs are corked, so you can remove the metal wrapping and unscrew the cork with a standard wine opener. Wait to open a bottle of pinot noir until you are ready to serve it.
Decanting: Pinot noir does not require any decanting, as it is ready to drink from the moment you uncork it. Decanting a pinot noir will not enhance the flavor, so it’s unnecessary.
Glass: Pinot noir is best served in a large, bell-shaped wine glass that allows you to bask in the aroma during every sip. Small, thin glasses limit your access to the scent.
Pouring: You should gently but firmly pour a pinot noir, so it hits the farthest side of the inside of your wine glass. An ideal serving is five ounces, and it’s helpful to swirl the wine before every sip.
Storing: Replace the cork on unfinished bottles and store them in the fridge. After you open a bottle of pinot noir, you should finish it within 24 to 72 hours. After that time frame, it will begin to lose flavor, and the acidity will increase to unpleasant levels.
Aging: If you want to age your pinot noir to create an intricate depth of flavor, you can age a bottle for up to eight years.
How to Perfectly Serve Pinot Noir
Now that you know the best way to serve pinot noir, you need the right tools. Standard kitchen fridges are too cold to chill wine properly, so you need a quality wine fridge.
Should pinot be chilled? The answer is a resounding yes, but if it’s too cold, you’ll lose the deep flavor notes. A top-of-the-line wine cooler or wine fridge is the best product to help you serve the perfect glass of pinot noir every time!
FAQs
If you have more questions about the appropriate temperature to serve pinot noir and other red wines, like pinot meunier or cabernet sauvignon, there are related questions and answers below.
Do I have to chill my pinot noir?
No, you can enjoy your pinot noir at room temperature. However, you will likely miss out on some of the more profound and more subtle flavor notes that are more perceptible when served at the optimal temperature.
Can red wine be served cold?
Yes, many people enjoy a thoroughly chilled red wine. If you chill a pinot noir in your kitchen fridge, it will likely decrease to a temperature between 35ºF and 40ºF. This temperature is quite chilly, but some people enjoy the reduced acidity in a cold red wine.
Can I serve pinot noir at room temperature?
The average room temperature of a home is between 65ºF and 72ºF. As you can see, this is well over the recommended serving temperature for a pinot noir. If you drink pinot noir at room temperature, you can still enjoy the flavor and complexity. However, it may be more challenging to pick up on the more delicate and underlying flavor notes.