under counter wine cooler refrigerator

Time to loosen those proverbial corsets. On average, it was colder indoors when the custom of drinking red wine at room temperature arose. (Castles are drafty.) Likewise, even though white wines were traditionally consumed right out of the cellar, i.e., cold, they're not intended to be served as cold as our refrigerators now allow.

For the accomplished wine connoisseur, and even for those who simply partake in a refreshing and relaxing glass of wine every so often, it is well known that certain wines taste better when served at a certain temperature. But how do you decide which wines need to be chilled?

S Whether you can't tell your Chardonnays from your Pinots or you consider yourself something of an aficionado, it's important to store and chill wine at its proper temperature. This simple wine chart can help. (Click the image above for a closer look.)

First, I have to point out that one of my friends, Lisa, asked, "What do you mean 'store'? People have left over wine?!" Ah yes, quite a wine lover my friend is. Anyway, in my classes, these questions come up week after week: How do you store open wine?