Hey, hey, hey New World Wine Warriors! Long time no speak. We know you missed our blogs, so we have decided to slowly introduce them back into the flow on our website. Take it easy on us because we have a new girl on the ropes for this writing stream – our social media warrior Sarah! But enough chit chatter, let’s talk about why you should be drinking chilled red wine…
Seems an absurd concept right? We’re always told that Rosé and Sauvignon Blanc are the only wines that should be stored in the fridge, FALSE! It’s time to educate our wine gurus on why storing a good bottle of red in the fridge, is the way to go!
Summer season is almost upon us, (9 days and counting – hurry up 20th of June!), and when we are choosing which wine to bring to a BBQ or friends party, we almost immediately go for the Rosé or Sauvignon, but why? They’re definitely not the only options available, so welcome to the world of chilled reds and dark rosés.
“But you don’t chill red wine!” I hear you cry… But, serving red wine at a cooler temperature is common practice among those in the elite – so now we’ve let you into a cellar secret!
So what are the benefits? How can a glass of Te Mata Gamay Noir get ANY better? Well, a cooler serving can elevate the fruit flavours, tighten the overall structure, and heighten the acidity in a wine, giving a fresh, more mouthwatering effect. It’s a great way to get your red wine fix, even when the sun’s shining.
What red wine to pick? The best bottles to try chilled are light-to-medium bodied, with minimal oak influence and low alcohol; a Pinot Noir, or Cabernet Franc for example. Pop the bottle in the fridge for 45 minutes-an hour, it’s as easy as that!
BIG no no’s… you should never chill full-bodied red wines that have a high level of tannin, like Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, chilling wines like this might make them taste metallic. Also, when a wine is too cold, a lot of the fruit expression and complexity of the wine gets masked. So be sure to pop your bottles in the fridge for an hour maximum.
To summarise? Grab your closest bottle of Pinot Noir, and place it in the fridge for 45 minutes to enjoy a different bundle of flavours – you’d be surprised what chilling wine can do for those taste buds! Let us know what you think.
