It may be scorching hot in the UK at the moment, but not everyone wants to drink white, rosé and sparkling all the time. Here are some rules of thumb for picking the right RED wines to chill and some great, affordable ones to try:
Chilled Red Wine - Rules of Thumb
Newsflash: It is perfectly fine to chill red wine down BUT some react better than others to cooler temperatures. The best styles of red wine for chilling tend to be lighter-bodied with minimal tooth-drying tannins and a generous dollop of fruitness. This is because cooler temperatures mute aromas and flavours so you need more of those in the first place. A bit of chill also exacerbates tannins, making a wine feel very dry in the mouth so go for something that’s silky smooth to start with. Here are some go-to styles that will take well to a good chilling:
Red Grapes & Styles That Chill Well:
Beaujolais (made with the Gamay grape)
Gamay from anywhere
Pinot Noir from anywhere
Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley
Grenache aka Garnacha from anywhere
Bobal
Red Lambrusco
Some Tempranillo (Not Rioja)
TRY THESE REDS CHILLED
Al Fresco Red, 11% ABV, £8.75 Co-op
The winemaker describes Al Fresco as a ‘smashable’ red, which is a perfect description for this light and tangy, cherry-scented, slightly herbaceous vino. Made with juicy Garnacha grapes from Spain, as its name suggests, this needs nothing but a slight chill, a comfy deckhair and some good conversation. At 11% too, it defines easy drinking. Not sweet either. Fab - and the label is pretty.
ViñaSol Fruity Red, Torres, £8.20 Ocado
Spanish winemaking family Torres are legendary in the trade and this new, lighter style of Tempranillo was made to be put in the fridge so I was expecting it to be sweeter for some reason. It’s dry and classy, with characteristic notes of savoury strawberry, a bit of herbaceousness and just enough grip to give it structure. No flabby wine here. I’m taking this to the beach to watch the sun go down.
Lambrusco Secco Reggiano, £8 M&S and Ocado
Lambrusco is back - and it’s a million miles from the sugar-fuelled commercial style of the past. This food-friendly, sparkling Italian tipple is an excellent version of ‘proper’ Lambrusco: deliciously rustic, dry and yeasty with lots of dark cherry and crunchy raspberry flavours and a moreish, balsamic-in-a-good-way kick. Serve it chilled with burgers and it’s highly smashable.
Toro Loco Red, £5.99 Tesco / £5.49 Aldi
With all the price rises we’ve seen in the past couple of years, it’s a wonder we can still find value vino that actually tastes as good as this one. Made with a blend of the Rioja grape Tempranillo and a large splash of fruity Bobal, this new-look Spanish sipper is rustic and savoury but not so heavy you feel the need for a big steak. Perfect if you love a bit of savoury fruit and are not into full-on jammy styles. 5/5
Blueprint Pinot Noir, £7.50, Waitrose
This exceptionally well-priced Pinot hails from Romania; a country which is producing some really lovely, light, aromatic and highly gluggable Pinot Noir wines under £10. Made by top producer Cramele Recas, this has all the ripe berry hallmarks of a cooler climate Pinot with a moreish, savoury spice note on the finish. Fabulous after a 20 minute chill and a plate of cold cuts as the sun goes down.