Chilled Reds: Summer beyond rosé

When the temperatures soar, it becomes more challenging for most of us to reach for a glass or red wine, even if it was otherwise your favorite go-to.

During the summer, especially in the heatwaves, I have found myself at some cute spot, on some cobbled street in some medieval town, struggling with the heat and missing the red wine section of menu. During those hot summer periods, there certainly is a particular pull for something a bit more fresh and out of the fridge, if not a sweating bucket of ice (that you can probably embrace, throwing caution and scene-making regards to the hot, hot wind).

Well, over the years I have been experimenting with cooling down of some reds, and…. for all of those out there who are a bit tired of the rosé frenzy for the sake of it just being cold… Here are some of my favorite reds you can serve at low temperatures and yield absolutely cheer-worthy results.

So, what makes a wine “chillable”?

When looking for that ideal bottle to serve colder than usual, there are a few things to keep in mind.

1. The body

   Specifically, you are looking for lighter-bodied reds. When you cool a wine down, you are closing off a lot of the complexity that some wines can exhibit. With the reds, you could be cutting down quite a large portion of their flavor profile and therefore creating a completely different, rather bland and flat wine that you will scrunch your nose at.

2. Flavour profile

   This in my mind also coincides with the summer-forward palette of flavors. You are essentially looking for wines that are fruit forward and with some higher acidity. Both of these qualities lend wonderfully to a colder drink - nobody wants a cold “tobacco leaf” in a glass.

3. Tannins

   Tannins are those qualities that remind you of how your mouth feels if you drink a tea where you left the teabag in for too long. At the right time and place, these could be wonderful and much desired. This is neither time, nor the place. Reach for low-tannin wines.

Credit: ogeday çelik - Getty Images

I also feel it is my duty here to ask you to think twice.. thrice.. before you chill a complex (and often expensive) bottle of red. With all complex wines, you really need to present them at their proper temperatures in order for all of the notes to come through on nose and palette, and you may not be shocked to find that none of these temperatures come with ice. Please do not shortchange those works of art by cutting them down at the knees.

I am not saying only cheap and simple wines could be chilled, but what I am saying is that most of the red wines that lend themselves to being served cold tend to not be the wines the producer has meant for aging. So, long story short - you’re likely to have an incredible selection at a steal and paying premium prices will not improve your cold flight much at all.

So, that all being said,

Here are some of my favorites:

Beaujolais

So Beaujolais uses 100% of Gamay grape, which also lends itself wonderfully to being served chilled. In fact, often times the wine shop or bar will recommend this is served cold in general.

I quite like the Fleurie appellation, like this example from Majestic Wines. In this wine, you will get notes of vibrant strawberries, black cherries, black currant and blueberries along with light vanilla and violets accents.

This wine is fermented in concrete vats using semi-carbonic maceration for about 10 days.

Pardon et Fils 'Côte des Labourons'
Fleurie 2023
Get yours here

Frappato

So Frappato is both a grape varietal and a wine type, consisting 100% of this grape.

While often times this grape is mixed with Nero d’Avola to make Cerasuolo di Vittoria (Sicily’s only DOCG), it is a rising star in its own right.

This wine comes with notes of strawberry, cherry, raspberry and blood orange that is complemented with floral notes like rose petals and violets.

W/O Organic Frappato 2024
Terre Siciliane IGT
Get yours here

Lambrusco

A sparkling red!

Lambrusco is not just the name of a wine from Northern Italy (Lombardia), but it is a whole family of grape varieties.
Lambrusco di Sorbara is the lightest of them, while Lambrusco Salamino is the most frequently planted (and balanced). This bottle in particular is made from Lambrusco Grasparossa, which is a bit darker, tannic and slightly fuller bodied. However, do not let this dissuade you - it still works magic when chilled.

In this wine, you can expect notes of red cherry, raspberry, strawberry, violet, rhubarb and sometimes even a hint of bitter herbs. This wine also will be lower in alcohol (10.5%) and made with cold macerations and through the chermat (tank) method.

Nivola Lambrusco
Lombardia, Italy
Get yours here

Pinot Noir

Of course, Pinot Noir has to make an appearance on this list. However, I would say this is the least fool-proof option out of the whole list. This grape (this would be 100% Pinot Noir) is incredibly versatile in what sort of wine it can produce.. and the price points it can demand on this basis.

For chilling, I would stick to young, new world pinots from places like New Zealand. For example, Wine Society’s 2023 bottle will have notes of red fruits lie strawberries and raspberries but also have it nicely balanced with very light vanilla and earth floor (this is also nice.. really).

The Society's Exhibition Pinot Noir 2023 Marlborough, New Zealand
Get yours here