Reds are no longer just for cooler weather months.
Pull out your pinots and merlots ladies and gents because rosé isn't the only wine you can enjoy cool this summer. INTRINSIC winemaker Juan Muñoz-Oca gave us the scoop on how to chill red wine so you can enjoy it year-round.
Go cheaper.
There's really never a need to throw down a lot of money on a bottle of wine. But if there's anytime to go cheap, it's when you chill it. “Some characteristics are enhanced when the wines are chilled, specifically in young, fruity reds," Muñoz-Oca says. He recommends searching for a vintage close to the current date (like you would for whites or rosés), which is typically less expensive. Less money and delicious cold wine? Count us in.
Not all reds are created equal.
Muñoz-Oca suggests lighter red varieties like pinot noir, gamay, grenache, syrah and merlot to enjoy chilled.
Use an ice bucket.
A typical refrigerator may make the bottle too cold.“The best way to chill your bottle is by placing it in an ice bucket for approximately 20-25 minutes," Muñoz-Oca says. You can also chill your bottle in a wine fridge, but make sure you only chill it for a maximum of 20-30 minutes. Not sure if it's cold enough? Muñoz-Oca insists, “If the bottle feels like a beer bottle, you've gone too far."
