Ice, Ice, Baby: Chillable Reds for Summer

June 14, 2016, 10:01 AM (Permalink)

It’s June, which means that on every wine-related corner of the internet, you’ll find articles discussing how great rosé is at this time of year, explaining why you should be switching to white wine for the season, or encouraging you to sip a nice cold beer. While we love to drink all of the above when the weather is warm, sometimes you just really want a glass of red—especially when a barbecue is involved! But during the heat of the summer months, the thought of room-temperature red wine may seem a little unappealing.

Fortunately, there is a solution to this problem! Some red wines can actually be enjoyed chilled, and may even benefit greatly from being served at a cooler temperature. It’s best to choose a red that is light in body, alcohol, and tannin, and high in acidity. France and Italy in particular are excellent resources for this type of wine, but possibilities can be found just about anywhere. The wine should be from a recent vintage, with plenty of fresh and lively berry flavors. Heavily oaked wines should be avoided–freshness and purity of fruit should take center stage.

There are many ways to achieve the perfect red-wine chill: if you have plenty of time, you can refrigerate your bottle in advance and take it out 30 minutes before serving. If you’re in more of a hurry, a bucket filled with ice and water will get the job done in about ten minutes. You could even stick the bottle in the freezer—just don’t forget to set a timer, unless you want wine slushies. Fifteen to twenty minutes should be perfect. Whichever method you choose, you’ll know it’s wine time when the bottle feels nice and cool (but not too cold) to the touch. Bonus instagram-worthy option: freeze some grapes and toss them into your un-chilled glass of wine to get the cooling benefits of ice without diluting your beverage!

The right chilled red can be remarkably versatile for pairing with all sorts of summer fare. Anything barbecued is a natural match, from salmon to chicken to duck or even lamb, not to mention veggie kebabs. And there may not even be a better companion in existence for a great burger than a refreshing glass of chilled red. Appetizer possibilities are nearly endless—cheese, charcuterie, fresh fruit, mushroom canapes, oysters—you can hardly go wrong. Of course, these wines can be just as refreshing and enjoyable on their own, and are unpretentious enough to serve in a mason jar for a casual picnic.

Here are some of our favorite reds to chill down with the sun is up:

2013 Red Car Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, CA