This might sound like an alien concept, but red wine can be delicious and refreshing when chilled! Although not all red wines will benefit from cooling down, so it’s crucial to pick the right one; stick with us and we’ll guide you through the best red wines to enjoy chilled this Summer.
Which red wines are suitable for chilling?
Chilling down young, simple, light and fruity styles of red wine with low levels of tannin, alcohol and minimal oak character can be a great alternative to whites and rosés in the Summer months. The fresher and lighter the wine, the more it will benefit from being served chilled.
Look for those thinner-skinned grape varieties, produced in cooler wine regions, such as Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Gamay (Beaujolais grape). They have naturally less tannin and more acidity in the wines. The high acidity levels will make the wine taste more vibrant, fresh and lively with a slight chill. Bardolino, Barbara, Frappato, Tempranillo and Grenache also lend themselves to being chilled. When chilling them, the fruit character is concentrated so they taste juicier, they also have good acidity levels which makes them taste more refreshing.
The perfect serve
Serve between 10-16 °C for optimum enjoyment. The best chilled reds will offer refreshing, delicious juicy red and black fruit flavours, depending on the wine, whilst delivering a crisp and almost restorative drinking experience. Be careful not to over-chill the wine, as this will mute the aromas and flavours. Avoid chilling aged or oaked reds, or those with high tannins because these will present as more bitter and astringent when cold, and will mask the fruit character of the wine.
How to chill your reds
There are a few ways you can chill down your red wines. The best method is to pop the wine in the fridge for 45 minutes before serving. For those indulging in a spontaneous cool glass of red, an ice bath will cool your wine down sufficiently in around 30 minutes. Really impatient palates may consider popping a couple of ice cubes into the glass, although this will dilute the flavour of the wine. Be careful using the freezer to chill your wine, because the rapid temperature shock can damage the wine, as well as cause the precipitation of small, glass-like, tartrate crystals (these do not affect the taste but they can spoil the appearance of your wine).
Can big, robust reds be chilled?
Generally, these should be served at room temperature (18°C), however, when the weather is really hot, it is beneficial to lightly chill your more full-bodied reds, like Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz, before serving them, as it is important for them not to get too warm. This can alter the structure of the wine; the alcohol becomes more prominent and the fruit flavours become less refined. Chilling it down slightly will bring the flavours back into focus, the alcohol becomes less apparent and the structure is restored and the wine is more refreshing to drink.
Our top red wines to serve chilled
J. Charlet, Beaujolais, L`or de Pierres, France 2022
A classic Beaujolais - vibrant, fresh and fruity.
Gilbert Chon Cabernet Franc 'Le Tristan', Loire, France 2020
Charming Cabernet Franc with black fruits and violets.
Cramele Recas Umbrele Pinot Noir, Romania 2021
Superb value pinot noir with plush red berries and black pepper spice.
Villa Maria Earth Garden Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand 2022
Fresh, pure and intense with toasty, smoky notes.
Fryer's Cove, Grenache-Cinsault, Western Cape, South Africa 2022
Award winning blend - velvety tannins wrapped around a core of bramble fruits.
Chateau Musar 'Musar Jeune', Lebanon 2020
Easy drinking style with vibrant red and blackcurrants, raspberries and cherries.
Have a go at experimenting with cooled red wines. Chilling your reds means that summer is just another perfect season to enjoy all the variety that wine has to offer!
