In our first blog, “The Beginner’s Guide to Choosing the "Right" Wines for Thanksgiving!,” we uncorked the secrets to selecting wines that pair beautifully with your holiday feast. From bright, bubbly sparklers to luscious reds and everything in between, we set the table with wines guaranteed to impress your guests. 

Now that your wine lineup is ready, it’s time to take it to the next level. Let’s explore the art of serving wine like a pro, and make sure each wine shines! The way you serve wine can elevate its flavors and enhance the experience for you and your guests. Let’s explore simple tips to serve wine like a pro this holiday season.

1. Get the Temperatures Right

Each wine style has an ideal serving temperature to bring out its best characteristics:

• Sparkling Wines: Serve well-chilled at 40–50°F. Keep a bucket of ice water nearby to maintain the temperature during mingling.
• White Wines: Serve chilled at 45–55°F. If you’re pulling whites straight from the fridge, let them sit for about 10 minutes to avoid over-chilling.
• Red Wines: Serve slightly cooler than room temperature, around 55–65°F. Reds that are too warm can taste flabby, while overly chilled reds may lose their depth.
• Dessert Wines and Ports: Serve slightly chilled at 50–60°F for a balanced and enjoyable experience.

2. Aerating Red Wines

While not all red wines need aeration or decanting, they can certainly improve with a little aeration before serving. Simple rule of thumb: Lighter bodied = less time. About 20 to 30 minutes. Medium bodied = 30 to 45 minutes. Heavy bodied, bold and tannic = 60 minutes and more. This allows the wine to “breathe”.  The wine gets exposed to air which helps to soften tannins and open up aromas.

3. Use the Right Glassware

While specialized wine glasses can enhance certain varietals, you don’t need to overcomplicate things. For your still wines, a universal wine glass will work just fine. For sparkling wines, I like flutes or tulip-shaped glasses that allow you to appreciate and maintain the bubbles longer.

4. Serving Tips to Maximize Enjoyment

• Pour in Moderation: Fill glasses no more than one-third full to allow room for swirling and appreciating the wine’s aromas. (Download my free Wine Aroma & Flavor Chart) to help identify what you smell and taste.
• Pair Strategically: Encourage guests to experiment with different wines and dishes to find their own favorite pairings.
• Label Your Selections: If you’re offering multiple options, use neck tags or labels to identify the general characteristics of each varietal so people can expect what they’ll taste. (You’ll find these notes in Blog #3 for the varietals referenced in Blog #1.)

5. Create a Relaxed Tasting Experience

Before the meal, consider setting up a mini wine-tasting station. Let guests try a small pour of each wine to see which ones they prefer, and which they’d like to enjoy with dinner. Suggest a super fun activity, like guessing aromatic and flavor profiles, to keep it engaging. Download my free Wine Aroma and Flavor Chart to help guide guests in their discovery. It is a perfect tool to make this activity both fun and educational. 

If you want to take it a step further, feel free to enjoy a FREE lesson from my course Wine Sensory and the The 7-S Technique for FREE. This lesson will teach you all the steps to confidently taste and evaluate wine like the pros. (Link Here). You can then share your newfound knowledge on how to evaluate wines with all your guests!

A Final Toast to Thanksgiving

Serving wine is as much about the atmosphere as it is about the flavors. This Thanksgiving, focus on creating an inviting and relaxed environment where guests feel free to savor the moment.

As you raise your glass, remember it’s not about achieving perfection but about making memories with those you love. Cheers to a wonderful holiday! 

"Sip, savor, and celebrate—because the best wine is the one shared with the people you love most." 

To making memorable moments and a joy-filled Thanksgiving,

Your Wine Country Wine Coach ~ Tami

Ciao for Now!

*If you’ve enjoyed these tips and want to explore wine further, check out my course  Wine Tasting 101 ~ The Beginner’s Guide to Wine Tasting Mastery .  It is designed to help beginners like you develop ultimate confidence in wine tasting by learning the art and science behind what makes a great wine! Whether for holidays or everyday enjoyment, wine is always more fun when you discover the unique gems that make each wine unique!