The Fine Wine Company Ltd - Best Wine Merchants Online | UK

  If your bubbles taste too sharp, the wine is probably too cold. If they taste flat, it is probably too warm. That is how much serving temperature matters, and the same idea applies to every style of wine. The short answer: serve sparkling wine at around 6–8°C, rosé at 8–12°C, white wine chilled but not ice-cold, and red wine slightly below room temperature. A bottle such as Ayala Brut Majeur NV , a 12% ABV Champagne at £33.95, is a good one to practise with. Below you will find a simple chart, plus easy ways to reach each temperature at home. Wine serving temperature chart Use this chart as a starting point. The figures come from our own guides to each style. Wine style Serve at Good to know Sparkling wine (most styles) 6–8°C Cold, but not frozen Champagne 8–10°C Slightly chilled Prosecco 6–8°C A little cooler than Champagne Rosé 8–12°C Too warm loses crispness, too cold mutes flavour White wine Chilled, not ice-cold Around 6–8°C when you want it properly cold Light red, such as...

  Sweet wine does not have to be heavy. Our tasting notes for Oremus Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos describe ripe peaches and apricots, stem ginger, and hazelnut praline, all cut through by a laser-like seam of acidity. That balance of richness and freshness is what makes Tokaji wine so distinctive. Image Alt Text - “Royal Tokaji Aszú bottle with golden wine, fresh peaches, apricots, honeycomb and a slice of cheesecake.” Tokaji comes from Hungary and is best known for its sweet Aszú wines, made from botrytised grapes. A friendly first bottle is Royal Tokaji Aszú Blue Label 5 Puttonyos 2018, 50cl , bottled at 11% ABV and priced at £39.95. Below, we explain the styles, the Puttonyos numbers, and how to serve it. What is Tokaji wine? Tokaji is wine from the Tokaj region of Hungary. On our shelves, it covers two broad styles: sweet dessert wines and dry Furmint. Furmint is the grape at the heart of it. Royal Tokaji’s Aszú lists Furmint as its grape, while MAD Aszú is made from Furmint, Hársl...

  Two whiskies from the same Islay distillery can taste nothing alike. Bruichladdich Classic Laddie is made with 100% unpeated barley, while Octomore 16.3 is malted to 189.5ppm, the figure used to describe peat level. So “Islay means smoky” is only half the story, and Speyside vs Islay is not simply sweet versus smoky. The short answer: if you like rich, sweet and fruity flavours, start with Speyside, such as Glenfarclas 12 Year Old , bottled at 43% ABV and priced at £54.95. If you enjoy smoke, start with Islay, but pick a gentler bottle first. Not sure? You can taste both regions for under £40 with small bottles from our shelves, and we show how below. What is the difference between Speyside and Islay whisky? The biggest difference is usually peat. Islay single malts are best known for peat smoke, while Speyside single malts are best known for richness, sweetness and fruit. Our own product notes show it clearly. Glenfarclas 12 Year Old offers “the classic Speyside richness of hon...