Instructions

1. Bring the bottle of Chianti to a cool room temperature of approximately 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. You should not chill this wine. If you have been storing your Chianti at the correct temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit or slightly below, you should leave it out at room temperature for a while before serving it to allow the wine to warm up a few degrees.

2. Pour the Chianti into Chianti-specific glasses, if possible. Chianti glasses are tall compared to their width with relatively small openings. If you do not have Chianti glasses, use other red wine glasses. Red wine glasses tend to have a more curved shape from top to bottom than white wine glasses, which have slightly more vertical sides. Fill each glass between a third and halfway full.

3. Serve the Chianti with steak, pork or veal or with a classic Italian meal of pizza or pasta. Other food pairings include lamb, most dishes containing tomato sauce, rabbit and poultry.