Pro Tips (FAQs) on Serving Wine
Learn decanting, the proper way to open a bottle of Champagne, what temperature to serve white, rose, and red wines, and what to do with leftover wine (if that ever happens).
Decanting is the process of slowly pouring from one container to another typically for separating liquids from solids and promoting aeration. For wine decanting, this simple process adds oxygen to the wine, allowing it to "breathe" (i.e., release its aromas and soften).
Think of it like a Japanese tea ceremony - only for wine. Captivate your guests by removing the top 1/4 of the foil capsule on the wine bottle, uncork with panache, and pour the lovely wine into a beautiful vessel like a decanter and place it on the table. You, your guests, and the wine will be better off experiencing it!
Decanting is the process of slowly pouring from one container to another typically for separating liquids from solids and promoting aeration. For wine decanting, this simple process adds oxygen to the wine, allowing it to "breathe" (i.e., release its aromas and soften).
Think of it like a Japanese tea ceremony - only for wine. Captivate your guests by removing the top 1/4 of the foil capsule on the wine bottle, uncork with panache, and pour the lovely wine into a beautiful vessel like a decanter and place it on the table. You, your guests, and the wine will be better off experiencing it!
Yes! All Sol Rei wines are filtered before bottling and crafted by our winemakers to be excellent as a young vintage so sediment should not be an issue. However,it is very important that you decant all Sol Rei Wine (with the exception of sparkling) so oxygen gets introduced to the bottled wine to allow the flavors to open up. This is true for both red and white wines. For our red wines, ideally, decant the wine and let it sit for a couple of hours for the full smoothness and complexity to show. For whites such as our Sauvignon Blanc, just decant and serve. The process of pouring the wine into the decanter will add the oxygen needed and the wine will remain the proper serving temperature.
Yes! All Sol Rei wines are filtered before bottling and crafted by our winemakers to be excellent as a young vintage so sediment should not be an issue. However,it is very important that you decant all Sol Rei Wine (with the exception of sparkling) so oxygen gets introduced to the bottled wine to allow the flavors to open up. This is true for both red and white wines. For our red wines, ideally, decant the wine and let it sit for a couple of hours for the full smoothness and complexity to show. For whites such as our Sauvignon Blanc, just decant and serve. The process of pouring the wine into the decanter will add the oxygen needed and the wine will remain the proper serving temperature.
Offered in numerous shapes and sizes, some decanters have been elevated to works of art, but for simplicity, durability, and ease of cleaning for everyday use, we recommend purchasing something a bit more practical. These are available at online marketplaces like Wayfair, West Elm, or specialty retailers.
Offered in numerous shapes and sizes, some decanters have been elevated to works of art, but for simplicity, durability, and ease of cleaning for everyday use, we recommend purchasing something a bit more practical. These are available at online marketplaces like Wayfair, West Elm, or specialty retailers.
Hopefully the shape of your decanter lends itself to easy cleaning such as the bell-shaped one in the photo. To clean it, just use a little (approx 1tsp) liquid dish soap in warm water and swirl it around. Rinse clean and make sure all the water on the inside drains out. Dry the outside and let the inside air dry upside down.
Hopefully the shape of your decanter lends itself to easy cleaning such as the bell-shaped one in the photo. To clean it, just use a little (approx 1tsp) liquid dish soap in warm water and swirl it around. Rinse clean and make sure all the water on the inside drains out. Dry the outside and let the inside air dry upside down.
Red: ~ 65 degrees
White: ~ 50 degrees (a little cooler for Sauvignon Blanc)
Rose: ~ 45 degrees
Sparking: ~ 38 degrees or the temp in ice bucket if using one
For storing the wine, follow similar temperatures. Ideally, a wine refrigerator with two zones, one for red and one for white, works well or if you have a cellar, store accordingly.
Red: ~ 65 degrees
White: ~ 50 degrees (a little cooler for Sauvignon Blanc)
Rose: ~ 45 degrees
Sparking: ~ 38 degrees or the temp in ice bucket if using one
For storing the wine, follow similar temperatures. Ideally, a wine refrigerator with two zones, one for red and one for white, works well or if you have a cellar, store accordingly.
Actually, this may sound like blasphemy for some, but it is not uncommon to recork and consume the remaining Sol Rei wine the next day if you and your guests are limiting your consumption. Even Sol Rei Sparkling retains the beautiful tiny bubbles long after being popped because it is made using the natural Méthode Champenoise.
If you want to store opened wine for more than a day or two, there are wine accessories such as vacuum seal pumps that remove the oxygen from the bottle.
Actually, this may sound like blasphemy for some, but it is not uncommon to recork and consume the remaining Sol Rei wine the next day if you and your guests are limiting your consumption. Even Sol Rei Sparkling retains the beautiful tiny bubbles long after being popped because it is made using the natural Méthode Champenoise.
If you want to store opened wine for more than a day or two, there are wine accessories such as vacuum seal pumps that remove the oxygen from the bottle.
For some, the big pop is theater and part of the fun. For others, opening the bottle is understated with minimal impact on the champagne or sparkling wine. We are going to discuss the latter. 1) Twist the loop on the wire cage until loose. 2) Gently work the cork back and forth until it slightly releases with your hand over the cork. 3) Move it slowly until you hear a hiss or sigh and then fully remove the cork.
For some, the big pop is theater and part of the fun. For others, opening the bottle is understated with minimal impact on the champagne or sparkling wine. We are going to discuss the latter. 1) Twist the loop on the wire cage until loose. 2) Gently work the cork back and forth until it slightly releases with your hand over the cork. 3) Move it slowly until you hear a hiss or sigh and then fully remove the cork.
The prevailing view of days gone by is yes; however, unless you want to spend hours in the kitchen hand-washing wine glasses, we feel this point of view does not fit modern life. A better solution is to purchase wine glasses that strike a happy compromise for use with white and red wines. The bowl should be large enough for enjoying the aromatics and a nice sized-portion, without the excessive size. For wine glass stems and white wines, holding the wine glass by the stem has been preferred so that your hand does not inadvertently heat up the chilled white wine in the bowl.
Nowadays however, it is very common to drink white wine in stemless wine glasses. For al fresco dining and outdoor festivities, we couldn't agree more. Stemless enables you to put down your wine glass in the grass for your turn at croquet, tend to the barbecue, and not worry about your wine glass tipping over if the picnic table is wobbly.
The prevailing view of days gone by is yes; however, unless you want to spend hours in the kitchen hand-washing wine glasses, we feel this point of view does not fit modern life. A better solution is to purchase wine glasses that strike a happy compromise for use with white and red wines. The bowl should be large enough for enjoying the aromatics and a nice sized-portion, without the excessive size. For wine glass stems and white wines, holding the wine glass by the stem has been preferred so that your hand does not inadvertently heat up the chilled white wine in the bowl.
Nowadays however, it is very common to drink white wine in stemless wine glasses. For al fresco dining and outdoor festivities, we couldn't agree more. Stemless enables you to put down your wine glass in the grass for your turn at croquet, tend to the barbecue, and not worry about your wine glass tipping over if the picnic table is wobbly.
