Should Chianti Be Chilled? (5 Must Read Tips)

by Philip Thompson
28 June, 2023

You’ve returned from your Tuscan summer holiday with a beautiful tan and a car boot full of Chianti wine, ready to wow your friends back home.

But how should you serve Chianti?

And what is the best temperature for Chianti?

Listen to this post here:

Should Chianti Be Chilled?

Yes, Chianti should be chilled. Chianti should be served chilled between 12 - 15°C (55°F - 60°F) and stored cooler than room temperature at 11 - 15°C (51°F - 59°F).

What is The Best Temperature to Serve Chianti

The best temperature to serve Chianti is between 55–60°F or 12-15°C.

Chianti is a delicious example of the red wine Italy has to offer, so it is important not to serve it too cold or too warm.

Too cold and you may not be able to taste the Chianti properly, which seems like a real waste.

Too warm and the Chainti may begin to taste overwhelmingly of alcohol, becoming unpleasant for you and your guests.

So let’s take a look at some of popular styles of Chianti and the best serving temperatures for them:

3 Popular Styles of Chianti and Their Ideal Serving Temperature

Chianti Superiore - Aged for a year, resulting in ripe fruit flavours and smooth tannins, serve around 55–60°F or 12-15°C
Chianti Reserva - With at least two years of ageing under its belt, this style of Chainti is usually the top of any individual producer, serve between 55–60°F or 12-15°C
Chianti Gran Selezione - Only found in regions producing Chianti Classico, serve this style of Chianti at room temperature, between 55–60°F or 12-15°C

Related: Is Chianti Sweet?

What is the Best Storage Temperature for Chianti?

The ideal temperature to store your Chianti is between 11°C and 15℃ (51–59°F).

It is best to avoid extremes or sudden changes of temperature when it comes to storing your Chianti, especially if you want to store them for some time.

For long term storage, try to store your Chianti in a specialised wine cellar, wine refrigerator or cabinet if you have them.

If not, not to worry!

Keep your bottles of Chainti somewhere cool and calm away from direct sunlight and too many disturbances.

So would the fridge be a good option, here?

Should You Put Chianti In The Fridge?

Can Chianti red wine go in the fridge?

Yes, red wine can go in the fridge and sometimes, in order to achieve the best serving temperature, putting red wine in the fridge is recommended.

If you want to make sure that you are consistently serving your Chainti at the best temperature a specialised wine refrigerator is a good investment, as this will keep your wine at a consistent and controlled temperature.

If you don’t have a wine fridge and your house is a little too warm for your liking, try placing your Chianti in the fridge just before serving, just to chill it down a little.

But don’t worry, if you leave your Chianti in the fridge for too long and it becomes too cold.

Simply remove it from the fridge and let it warm up a little, then you’re good to go.

How Long Should You Chill Chianti For?

Now this really depends on your fridge and how cold you like your Chianti.

If the room temperature of your house is a little too warm for your Chianti then try and place your bottle in the fridge before serving.

No need to leave it in there all day, just enough to chill it down a little.

If you have a specialist wine fridge the conditions will have been designed to look after your wine, and in this instance you can set the fridge at a specific temperature that will suit your Chianti perfectly.

Intrigued?

Visit Expert Wine Storage for a new wine cooler fridge.

Here are our top tips on serving Chianti:

5 Tips on Serving Chianti

The ideal serving temperature for Chianti is between 55–60°F or 12-15°C.
Use a wine cooler to help keep your Chianti at a consistent serving temperature.
Keep your Chianti somewhere cool and calm away from disturbances until you are ready to serve it.
Store your Chianti between 11°C and 15℃ (51–59°F) and keep it away from direct sunlight and sudden movements.
Laying your Chianti on its side whilst storing can help to ensure the cork doesn’t dry out and can help to keep the wine better for longer.