best temp to drink wine for max deliciousness (part 2)

a bit over seltzers and not always in the mood for a beer? same. we reckon chilled reds are the best thing to have come out of the last decade. it means you can stay drinking wine even when the sun is out.

now, if you haven’t gotten into chilling reds yet, we know it may sound a bit weird. but hear us out. with a standard table red, 
there’s a sweet spot when it comes to serving temperature (around 16-17 degrees – read part 1 of this blog for more info). but here we want to explain what traits make a red ‘chillable’, and what to steer clear of.  

not every red can be chilled. full-bodied or aged reds don’t love the cold. push them much below 16 °C and all that structure and tannin can get thrown out of whack, leaving the wine tasting a bit sharp and bitey. essentially, as a red wine gets cooler, the ‘fruity’ flavours decrease. So if you try to chill a more savoury, tannic wine, whatever fruity notes were in there are likely to disappear completely. 

but lighter style, fruity reds (like DTM 👀)? that’s where the magic happens. lower tannins, higher acidity, lighter body and fruit-forward flavours all benefit from a chill. the result? wines that are smoother, juicier, fresher and way more sessionable in warm weather. that’s exactly why don’t tell mum works so well chilled. our still red is crafted to be lean and juicy, while our sparkling red is literally built to be cold. no guess work required.

so, what varieties work well chilled?

it’s not just about the variety. for reference, a typical full-bodied shiraz likely won’t be that great chilled. its more about the style the wine is made in. think light, juicy and fruit–forward. sparkling red, light-style shiraz, grenache or pinot noir all shine with a bit of time in the fridge. a good rule of thumb is the lighter the wine is in colour, the better it is chilled. (mostly). 

there are no strict rules, but for max enjoyment: 

• pop your bottle in the fridge for about 45mins, or 

• 15 mins in an ice bath or esky if you’re impatient (we get it) 

• or just keep a bottle in the fridge all the time so its ready to go, then leave it out once its cracked! 

so don’t overthink it. next time you’re heading to the beach or a summer bbq chuck a couple bottles of don’t tell mum (still or sparkling) in an esky with some ice for a bit, and you’re good to go.