But to get the most out of your bottle, it’s handy to know the best temperatures to serve and store Port, so let’s take a little look.
There are two easy but key factors to drinking port wine properly. The first is the temperature—you should always chill your port wines and serve them cold. Room temperature completely throws off, if not ruins, the balance and experience of sipping these delightful wines.
Should You Put Port In The Fridge?
Yes, you can put Port in the fridge and this will even help to slow down the oxidation process with open bottles of Port, too.
However, if you want to make sure that you are consistently serving your Port at the best temperature a specialised wine refrigerator is a good investment.
But don’t worry if you leave your Port in a domestic fridge for too long and it becomes too cold!
Simply remove it from the fridge and give it about half an hour to warm up slightly then it’ll be good to go.
So how long, exactly, should you chill Port for?
What is the Best Storage Temperature for Port?
Due to its star quality and ageing potential, Port is best stored in a wine cellar, wine refrigerator or cabinet.
Consistency is key here, and It is best to avoid extremes or sudden changes of temperature when it comes to storing Port, so try to avoid using a kitchen fridge if you can.
The ideal temperature to store Port is between 11°C and 15℃ (51–59°F).
Unlike most other wines, try and store your Port upright where you can, as this well help the cork from becoming damaged over time.
Read more about how long port lasts: How Long Does Port Last?
So if Port needs to be kept at cool temperatures, can you put Port in the fridge?
The Guide to TAWNY PORT Wine
FAQ
Should Port wine be refrigerated?
Is Port wine better cold or warm?
How should you drink Port?
Are you meant to chill Port?
Can port wine be served at room temperature?
As it’s often regarded as a close relative of both red wine and an alcoholic spirit like cognac, port wine is often served at room temperature. However, port wine is best served slightly chilled at the following temperatures according to its variety:
What is considered moderate consumption of wine?
The World Health Organization (WHO) considers an acceptable level of consumption three standard doses of 120 ml of wine per week for men and two for women.
Should wine be chilled?
Fortunately, chilling wine isn’t one of them. Follow a few guidelines, and you’ll sip at the optimal temperature in no time. Not all wines should be chilled to the same temperature because of their chemical composition. The backbone of a white wine is acidity. The structure of a red comes from its tannins.
Should Port be chilled?
Yes, Port should be chilled. Ruby and vintage port should be served slightly chilled between 16 – 18°C (60°F – 64°F), tawny port should be chilled to 14 – 16°C (57°F – 60°F) while white port should be served at 10 – 12°C (50°F – 54°F) . All types of port should be stored at a cool temperature between 11 – 15°C (51°F – 59°F).