Nothing beats pulling a well-chilled bottle of wine out of an icy bath on a warm summer day. But did you know that many red wines can be enjoyed best with a bit of chill on them? You don’t have to give up drinking red wine with burgers fresh off the grill just because it’s hot out.
How long should you chill a red? Try to refrigerate one hour before serving, or 15 minutes submerged in an ice water bath. And if you forget about it in the fridge or ice bucket, don’t worry. The wine will come up to temperature with time when you set it on your picnic table. It can also be fun to compare how the wine’s flavor changes as it goes from cold to cool.
Frappato
This Italian grape, native to Sicily, flourishes in the Vittoria wine region in the province of Ragusa. It’s also blended with Nero d’Avola to produce a heartier red, Cerasuolo di Vittoria.
Recommended Wine
Paolo Calì 2015 Mandragola Frappato (Vittoria); 90 points, $20.
Gamay
The red grape of Beaujolais. Wines from the top sites, or crus, can be surprisingly long-lived, but many can also be enjoyed in their youth.
Recommended Wine
Domaine les Capréoles 2015 Chamodère (Régnié); 88 points, $17.
Zweigelt
Much like Austria’s signature white wine grape, Grüner Veltliner, Zweigelt can be rich and complex, or light-bodied and refreshing. Great bargains can especially be found in the latter style.
Recommended Wine
Esterházy 2015 Zweigelt (Burgenland); 89 points, $13. Best Buy.
Cabernet Franc
This famous variety is one of the main grapes in Bordeaux blends. As a varietal wine in the cooler climate of France’s Loire Valley, Cabernet Franc shows delightful fresh herbal characteristics.
Recommended Wine
Domaine les Pins 2015 Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil; 88 points, $20.
Published: May 25, 2017
