I often hear the same comments about wine, so I wanted to dive into five common myths. By the end of this video, you’ll be able to respond to your uncle who claims his wine has aged well and is therefore better. Let’s get started.
Myth 1: Red wine should be served at room temperature
The first myth is pretty simple: people often say that red wine should be served at room temperature. But that’s not exactly true. Obviously, you should never put red wine in the fridge. But room temperature is actually a bit too warm for red wine.
Think more along the lines of a cool pantry. More precisely, red wine should be served between 16 and 18°C (60–64°F).
So stop leaving your bottle in the kitchen for hours before drinking it. Keep it in a slightly cool place to reach the ideal tasting temperature. If you have a wine fridge, store it vertically.
Myth 2: Expensive wines are always better
Now for the second myth: the more expensive the wine, the better it is.
This one is a little trickier, because it’s partly true. You’re unlikely to really enjoy a €3 bottle. And generally speaking, your chances of having a great experience go up if you spend over €20.
That said, the price of a wine is influenced by more than just taste. Branding, marketing, and rarity also play big roles in pricing.
So here’s the truth: for most people, there’s no need to spend over €50 on a bottle.
Between €10 and €50, you can find plenty of delicious wines.
Wines that cost much more are usually sought out for very specific reasons—like the expression of a particular terroir or vintage—rather than taste alone.
I recently interviewed Thibault Liger-Belair, a well-known winemaker in Burgundy, and I’ll link the video in the description. He told me something that sums it up perfectly: the best bottle of wine is an empty one. So let’s stop obsessing over price and focus on taste and enjoyment.
Myth 3: Wine always gets better with age
Next up: wine always needs to age, and the older the wine, the better it is. There are two things to address here.
First, not all wines are made to age for years in a cellar. In fact, most aren’t. The vast majority can be enjoyed shortly after bottling. Even great wines can be enjoyed after 2 years or after 20.
So if you’re building a cellar, look for bottles that age well, and consider buying several of the same wine so you can taste how it evolves over time.
Second, wine doesn’t always improve with age—even the best ones. Wine follows a sinusoidal curve: it improves, peaks, and then declines.
That journey isn’t linear; it has ups and downs. I’ve experienced this firsthand—tasting the same bottle a year apart, it can taste completely different.
Also, the setting matters. The context of your tasting can greatly affect how you experience the wine. A romantic dinner on holiday might make a wine taste magical, while the same bottle might feel flat at home.
Myth 4: Screw caps mean low-quality wine
Fourth myth: screw caps equal bad wine. I don’t have much to say except—it’s false.
For wines meant to be enjoyed young and not aged, screw caps are absolutely fine. In fact, they provide better sealing and reduce the risk of oxidation.
So don’t worry about the closure—you can enjoy excellent wines that come with a screw cap.
Myth 5: Sulfites cause headaches
Fifth and final myth: sulfites give you headaches.
In reality, only a very small portion of the population is actually sensitive to sulfites.
If you get a headache after drinking wine, it’s more likely one of these reasons: the wine wasn’t very good, you drank too much, or you didn’t drink enough water.
Sometimes, it’s all three—bad news, I know. So let’s drink in moderation, stay hydrated, and enjoy responsibly.