Which wines need chilled

Advance Planning. This rule applies to most everything in life. Stick reds and whites in the fridge and remove them an hour or two before dinner. The Freezer. Loaded bottles into the icemaker as friends grew ambitious with their consumption, only to forget them and find an icy explosion the next morning. While quality may not diminish at such extreme temperatures, the risk of a mess rises. When the water in wine freezes, it expands and can push the cork out in part or full, or even crack the bottle.

This allows the egress of oxygen, which starts the clock on oxidation. If you use the freezer, set a timer for 30 minutes. Slip the bottle into an icy salt bath. The table version will do. Grab a bucket or container, and add salt, water and ice. Ice absorbs heat from the water, which brings the temperature down. Other Chilling Methods. For singles, a sleeve kept in the freezer will chill a ml bottle. If price seems a bit of blunt instrument, then consider being wary of tannin and over-use of new oak, in particular.

Focus on fresher styles with good primary fruit flavours. One reason why stainless steel vats can be used in wineries, and sometimes also concrete, is to help protect those fresh, primary fruit flavours in at least a portion of the wine. A pale colour can also be a good indicator, because it suggests lighter extraction in the cellar. Juicy, fruity flavours work better than savoury notes, so opt for a young wine in preference to an old one. Red wines are perhaps the trickiest to get to the optimal temperature.

Rather than leaving your red wines out on the counter, put them in the refrigerator for 40 minutes or in the freezer for 6 minutes before popping the cork. Do you prefer dry whites or sweet, rich whites? At this temperature, the aromatics and flavors can come through while the acidity gives a crispness to the finish without becoming overpowering. Sweet, rich wines should be served slightly warmer at about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Any warmer and the sweetness of the wine will overshadow the mineral qualities.

You can chill white wine in the refrigerator for about two hours or in the freezer for 20 minutes. To make sure your white is perfectly ready for your enjoyment, we love this wine thermometer that doubles as a gorgeous bottle opener. Traditionally delivered and served from an ice bucket, sparkling wines are often served colder than their non-bubbly siblings.

The ideal temperature for sparkling wines is between 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. To get it there, toss a room temperature bottle in your refrigerator for about two and a half hours or in the freezer for about 25 minutes. Then set the bottle on the table for just a couple minutes before opening.

In most cases, your wine glasses are going to be warmer than you want to serve your wine. A dramatic temperature difference can quickly change the temperature - and therefore the experience - of your wine. Use glasses with stems so the person enjoying the wine can hold the glass without his or her hand warming the cup.