Chillable Reds
Saturday, May 31st
1:00 - 3:00
1:00 - 3:00
Chilling red wine is far from a new phenomenon, though not enough wine lovers partake in this simple delight. Too many American wine drinkers still adhere to the outdated belief that red wines are meant to be consumed at room temperature. Several decades, or more likely centuries back, what was viewed as "room temperature" was a bit cooler than what we think of now. Proper serving temperature for most reds could better be described as cellar temperature, and most wine professionals will agree that the majority of red wines are best enjoyed with a slight chill, aiming for between 60 and 65 degrees. Part of this is that if served too warm, the alcohol itself becomes too pronounced in what you taste. Think about if you've ever taken a sip of red wine, and it seemed to sting or burn a little. Put just a slight chill on that wine and the fruit comes much more to the foreground of what is tasted, and the wine will likely seem smoother and softer as well.
As we head into warmer weather, there are actually a good number of red wines that really come to life when served at even cooler temperatures, and fortunately they happen to be the lighter-bodied reds that many people prefer to drink in the summer months. These light-to-medium-bodied wines are often notable for high acid and low tannins. Grapes like Gamay, Pinot Noir, Mondeuse. Cinsault, Zweigelt, and Cabernet Franc are all prime examples. On these wines, you can certainly aim more for 50 to 55 degrees for serving. You can achieve this by popping a bottle into your refrigerator for 30 to 45 minutes and remove it just before serving, or stick it in the fridge overnight and remove it about an hour before serving. The lighter style of these reds makes them super food-friendly, and they can pair with a variety of foods usually more associated with white wines. They also tend to be bright, juicy, and refreshing, and with that chill become excellent red wines to have on the patio or poolside.
Montefresco Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC, Italy, 2022
Domaine de Bel-Air 'Les Granits Bleus' Beaujolais-Villages
Beaujolais-Villages AOC, France, 2023
Dürnberg Zweigelt
Falkenstein, Niederösterreich, Austria, 2022
Produttori di Manduria 'Electric Bee' Primitivo
Salento IGP, Italy, , 2022
As we head into warmer weather, there are actually a good number of red wines that really come to life when served at even cooler temperatures, and fortunately they happen to be the lighter-bodied reds that many people prefer to drink in the summer months. These light-to-medium-bodied wines are often notable for high acid and low tannins. Grapes like Gamay, Pinot Noir, Mondeuse. Cinsault, Zweigelt, and Cabernet Franc are all prime examples. On these wines, you can certainly aim more for 50 to 55 degrees for serving. You can achieve this by popping a bottle into your refrigerator for 30 to 45 minutes and remove it just before serving, or stick it in the fridge overnight and remove it about an hour before serving. The lighter style of these reds makes them super food-friendly, and they can pair with a variety of foods usually more associated with white wines. They also tend to be bright, juicy, and refreshing, and with that chill become excellent red wines to have on the patio or poolside.
Montefresco Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC, Italy, 2022
Domaine de Bel-Air 'Les Granits Bleus' Beaujolais-Villages
Beaujolais-Villages AOC, France, 2023
Dürnberg Zweigelt
Falkenstein, Niederösterreich, Austria, 2022
Produttori di Manduria 'Electric Bee' Primitivo
Salento IGP, Italy, , 2022