NOTHING compares to a glass of cold, crisp white or rosé wine on a hot summer day.
But would you try a chilled bottle of red?
Retailers say red wine sales didn’t suffer the usual summer slump last year, while budget supermarket Aldi declared chilled red THE drink of choice for 2024.
Wine experts believe that some grape varieties like Pinot Noir and Gamay, used to make Beaujolais, may actually taste better when served slightly cold.
Here, writer and wine expert Alex Lloyd tests the best supermarket reds that can be refrigerated and gives them a rating out of five. . .
ESTEVEZ CHILENO MERLOT
(£4.19, Aldi)
9
THIS Chilean wine has a sweet nose with flavors of plum, black currant and even chocolate.
It’s a smooth, medium-bodied bargain.
5/5
MORRISONS THE BEST CHINON 2023
(£8)
9
MADE in France’s Loire Valley from Cabernet Franc grapes, this deep-colored wine has flavors of black currant and green pepper, with a hint of tannin. Great with chicken.
3/5
CO-OP IRRESISTIBLE COUNTRY 2022
(£8.50)
9
I DETECTED a bit of vanilla on the nose of this recently released light red from Chile.
There are also notes of black cherry and subtle hints of smoke. Great.
5/5
PROVE THE DIFFERENCE MARZEMINO TRENTINO 2022
(£8, Sainsbury’s)
9
YOU will enjoy notes of red cherries, raspberries and plums in this ripe and fragrant Italian wine.
It’s very summery, but it still has a little spice.
4/5
PINOT NOIR 2023 VIN DE FRANCE
(£5.49, Lidl)
9
An easy drink, light and with a little dryness on the tongue.
Expect red and black fruit flavors and a smooth 12.5% APV.
Ideal to accompany a salad.
3/5
TESCO THE BEST SAINT-CHINIAN
2021 (£9)
9
IF you like rich, full-bodied reds, this is a great choice, thanks to its blackberry and spicy flavor, as well as a touch of smoke.
Enjoy with a roast.
4/5
M&S EXPRESSIONS ORGANIC GARNACHA
(£8.50, Ocado)
9
A FRESH and fruity Spanish red with strawberry and cherry flavors.
A powerful 14% ABV, it’s a good match for spicy meat dishes.
4/5
CUVÉE DES VIGNERONS BEAUJOLAIS
(£9.99, Waitrose)
9
A light and smooth drink, with plenty of juicy red fruit flavor, as well as a little acidity.
It’s a good choice for white wine fans who want to try something new.
4/5
HOW TO GET THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE
IN the UK we are used to buying our white wine in the fridge and our reds on the shelf.
But in warmer countries like Spain, it’s common to see red wine stored in a cooler or ice bucket, says Co-op wine buyer Sarah Benson.
She adds: “The recommended temperature for serving reds is 15°C to 18°C, but modern British homes are often much warmer, meaning the room temperature can be very hot.
“In the summer, this can cause your wine to take on a soupy quality and the flavors to suffer.
“But chilling the red emphasizes the fruity flavors. It can make wines easier to drink. I describe it as a ‘session wine’, a bit like if you had a ‘session beer’ which is tasty and refreshing.”
Sarah has a simple formula when it comes to the cooling process.
She explains: “For white wines, we recommend removing them from the refrigerator 20 minutes before drinking to release the flavors.
“For red wines, place them in the refrigerator for 20 minutes before drinking to cool without inhibiting the flavor.
“An ice bucket is also a good option to cool down. Ideally, you should not add ice cubes to your drink. They will melt and dilute the wine.
“Instead, freeze some grapes in advance and put them in.”
While any red can be chilled, some grape varieties actually benefit from it and are better when colder.
“Light-bodied, fruity wines pair well with this,” adds Sarah.
“Pinot noir, paise and grenache are good choices, along with beaujolais.
“A good pairing for chilled reds is fresh salads with a little acid, like tomato salad or something with dressing.
“Perfect for summer.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
