Should Sherry Be Chilled? (3 Top Varieties)

by Philip Thompson
21 June, 2023

There’s no better way to begin or end a meal than with a glass of Sherry.

There really is a Sherry for every course.

But in order to make sure you’re getting the most out of Spain’s favourite fortified wine, it’s important to know the best ways to serve and store Sherry ahead of your next dinner party.

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Should Sherry Be Chilled?

Yes, Sherry should be chilled. Serve your drier, lighter styles such as Fino and Manzanilla between 7-9°C or 44-48°F. Richer, more decadent styles of Sherry such as Pedro Ximenez should be served a little warmer, around 14°C or 57°F.

Credit: Harveys Signature Sherry at Waitrose

Ideal serving temperatures for Sherry depend on the style involved.

Let’s take a look at 3 types of Sherry you may have come across and their ideal serving temperatures.

Popular Styles of Sherry and Their Ideal Serving Temperature

Fino Sherry - This bone dry sherry makes a perfect aperitif when paired with olives and salted almonds, serve well chilled (7-9°C or 44-48°F)

Amontillado - An aged Sherry that pours amber and tastes deliciously nutty. You can serve this style slightly chilled. (12-14°C or 53-57°F)

Pedro Ximenez - Dessert wines don’t get better than this, raisin sweet and treacle dark, you can serve this style of Sherry just below room temperature (14°C or 57°F)

So if that’s the temperature Sherry likes to be served, how cold should you store Sherry?

What is the best storage temperature for Sherry?

What is the Best Storage Temperature for Sherry?

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

Sherry may be a hardier wine, because of its fortified nature, but it should still be stored well.

For expert results, try storing your Sherry in a wine cellar, wine cooler or cabinet.

If you don’t have specialised wine storage then don’t panic.

Just look for somewhere cool and calm with minimal disturbances and your Sherry should be happy there until you’re ready to drink it.

So when can you put Sherry in the fridge?

Should You Put Sherry In The Fridge?

Wine Fridge

This really depends on what type of Sherry you have.

Styles that prefer to be served chilled, such as Fino, can absolutely go into the fridge.

Other sherries that prefer things a little warmer, like Pedro Ximenez, may only need to go into the fridge about fifteen minutes before serving, just to cool it down a little.

So how long should Sherry go in the fridge for?

How Long Should You Chill Sherry For?

If you want to chill your Sherry then you only need to place your bottle in the fridge about 2-3 hours before you plan on drinking it.

If you have a domestic refrigerator the drier conditions may damage the corks over time, so it’s best to store your Sherry elsewhere and just pop the bottle in the fridge on the day you plan on drinking it.

However, if you have a specialist wine fridge the conditions will have been designed to look after your wine and control the temperatures inside.

In this instance Sherry can go in a wine fridge for a longer period of time.

Here are our five top tips on how to serve your Sherry:

5 Tips on Serving Sherry

Not all Sherry benefits from being chilled! Aim to serve your Fino and Manzanilla styles between 7-9°C or 44-48°F

Pedro Ximinez likes to be served a little warmer, aiming for about 14°C or 57°F.

If your Sherry gets too cold there’s no need to panic. Just keep it on the side for a little bit and let it warm up to a more drinkable temperature.