Q: Should red wines be served at room temperature?

A: Red wines are not normally served chilled. Tannins, astringent compounds found in all red wines, become bitter tasting when red wine is cold. However, there are a few red wines with very small levels of tannins that can benefit from chilling: Beaujolais from France and Pinot Noir (especially those that cost $20 or less). They often taste more refreshing when chilled 30 to 45 minutes in the refrigerator.