Chill Your Red Wines This Summer
As the June heat settles over Maryville, wine lovers naturally gravitate toward the refrigerator. We happily reach for ice-cold bottles of Pinot Grigio, crisp Sauvignon Blanc, and pale, refreshing rosés. Meanwhile, our favorite bottles of red wine often get pushed to the back of the rack, reserved strictly for air-conditioned dinners or rainy evenings.
However, we are here to let you in on an incredible wine world secret. You do not have to abandon red wine just because the weather is hot. You simply need to put it in the fridge. Chilling certain red wines is a fantastic way to enjoy the depth of a red while experiencing the refreshing, thirst-quenching crispness of a white. Here is a guide from Wine & Spirits Cellar on how to master the art of the chilled red this summer.
The Golden Rule: Choose the Right Varietal
Before you throw every red wine in your collection into the refrigerator, it is important to know that not all reds react well to cold temperatures. Heavy, highly tannic wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, or Nebbiolo do not handle the cold well. When full-bodied wines get cold, their tannins lock up, making the wine taste unpleasantly bitter, astringent, and uncharacteristically dry.
Instead, you want to focus entirely on light-bodied, fruit-forward red wines with low tannins and bright, vibrant acidity. When these specific wines are chilled, their bright berry flavors burst forward, their alcohol heat is softened, and their acidity becomes incredibly refreshing.
Three Styles Built for the Fridge
If you want to experiment with chilling red wine this June, here are three fantastic styles to look for on your next shopping trip:
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Gamay (Beaujolais): This French grape is the absolute king of chilled reds. It is naturally packed with high acidity and incredibly low tannins. When chilled, it bursts with joyous flavors of fresh tart cherries, wild raspberries, and subtle violet florals.
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Pinot Noir: This beloved, elegant grape is a fantastic candidate for the fridge, especially youthfully bright, fruit-forward expressions from California or Oregon. A brief chill accentuates its beautiful red fruit notes and clean, earthy undertones.
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Frappato or Barbera: If you want to try something unique, look to Italy. Frappato from Sicily is incredibly light, aromatic, and refreshing when cold. Barbera, hailing from Northern Italy, offers intense dark cherry flavors and a sharp, juicy acidity that screams for a summer night.
The 20-Minute Refrigerator Rule
Achieving the perfect temperature for your summer red is incredibly simple. You do not want the wine to be bone-chillingly cold like a bottle of Champagne. If a red wine gets too cold, all of its beautiful aromatics will completely disappear.
Instead, aim for a pleasant cellar temperature, right around fifty-five degrees. To achieve this, simply place your room-temperature bottle of light red wine into the refrigerator for about twenty to thirty minutes before you plan to open it. If you are taking the bottle outside to a backyard barbecue, keep it resting in a cooler of ice to maintain that refreshing edge.
Visit Us in Maryville to Find Your Summer Red
Chilling your red wine is a wonderful way to expand your palate and keep your summer drinking habits exciting. It offers the absolute best of both worlds for wine lovers during the hot Tennessee summer months.
When you are ready to find the perfect bottle for your refrigerator, come see us at Wine & Spirits Cellar in Maryville. Our shelves are fully stocked with an incredible variety of international and domestic light-bodied reds that are practically begging for a chill. Stop in today, chat with our wine experts, and discover your new favorite summer sip!