Our pick of three red wines you need to try chilled, and while you’re at it, warm up that white! The changing of seasons here in Calgary makes picking a bottle of wine for the evening just as tricky as dressing for the weather, so why not chill a red and enjoy the best of both worlds?
Wines that are fruity, low in tannin, low in alcohol and lighter in body will shine if you give them a bit of the “cold shoulder” treatment. It will enhance the acidity, highlight fruity notes and best of all makes red wine more refreshing. Try chilling varietals like: Gamay (Beaujolais), Carignan, Chinon Cabernet Franc, Lambrsuco, Pinot Noir and Barbera.
So how do you properly chill a bottle of red? Pop it in your fridge for just 20-30 minutes and let the magic happen! If you over chill the wine, don’t sweat it, pour yourself a glass and cradle it in your hands to help warm it up!
Tried, Tested & Tasty – here’s our top 3 picks
Domaine de Vénus, Côtes Catalanes, $25.20 (2015) – a tasty 100% Carignan from the south of France. Delicate with notes of red currant, violet and licorice. Perfect with flank steak.
Broc Cellars, Counoise, $43.95 (2014) – a natural wine hailing from one of California’s urban wineries. It has generous notes of plum, savoury spices and great acidity. Enjoy with lamb chops.
Domaine de Bel-Air, Les Granits Bleus, Beaujolais-Village, $23.45 (2015) – fresh and supple Beaujolais (Gamay) with notes of juicy raspberries, soft tannin and refreshing acidity. Pair with savoury pies or charcuterie.
It’s important to keep in mind that not all red wines are designed to be enjoyed chilled! Avoid giving full bodied, high tannin, high alcohol wines (think Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah) a frosty finish as the chill will make the wines more astringent and tannic! Full bodied red wines are best enjoyed between 15-18 degrees Celsius. On the other hand, some white wines are better a little bit warmer than you might expect. Full bodied whites like oaked Chardonnay will also benefit from being enjoyed a bit warmer so pull it out from the fridge 20 minutes or so prior to serving and enjoy!
Share your favourite chilled reds with us: @vinestylesyyc
