Chilled or Not?

[gbchilds]

Help! I'm a baby when it comes to wine.
As a general rule:
Chardonnay - Chilled?
White Zin. - Chiled?
White Merlot - Chilled?
Merlot - Chilled?

Thanks!!

[Kcwhippet]

Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
No.

[Innkeeper]

Welcome to the Wine Board. If you South Carolina home is heated to over 65 degrees F. you want to chill the merlot (red merlot) a little to get it down to 65.

[mrdutton]

So the simple answer would be:

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Red wine, some will say, is best served at room temperature. What many fail to explain is that 'room temperature' applies to the euro-version not the local version. Room temperature around these parts is about 72 F.

Room temperature in lots of parts of Europe is down around 65 F or so.

I chill my reds to get them down to about 60 to 65 F. I chill my whites to get them down between 40 and 50 F. I chill my champagne and sparkling wines down between 35 and 40 F.

[stevebody]

Without meaning to completely contradict the estimable Mr. Dutton (How things in VA Beach, my old stompin' grounds?, Mr. D?), most wines, even whites, will reveal some characteristics at a slightly warmer temp than the cold they're usually served at. Chards, especially, develop fragrance notes and a buttery texture when slightly warm - 55 degrees or so - than when served the way we American galoots treat them, which is sometimes like soda pop or ided tea. Bubblies, even, open up new territory when a bit warmer. Our obsessive 72D room temp IS too warm for most wines, if held at that for a long time. Merlot, I must disagree, is the sort of jammy, floral thing that tends to close up if chilled and the line between too cool and optimal is fine, indeed. The best way to find your own comfort zone if to take the wine a few degrees too cold and pour it into a LARGE, bordeaux-style glass, cup the glass in both hands, with your palms around the bottom in firm contact, and gradually swirl the wine and smell and taste as it warms up. You'll easily see the difference between the cooler temps and warmer and can find your preferred range. It takes a few minutes but it's a good way to find out what you like.

Final thought: Ain't no Wine Police coming to your door if you want to chill your Merlot or warm your bubblies. What you like is what is right for you.