What's the Deal with Chilled Reds?
Last week we talked about how you just might be drinking your red wines too warm! (Read more about that here.)
This week I’m going to introduce you—if you haven’t been already—to chilled reds. (Like red wines that you should be drinking proper cold, like borderline white-wine temperature.)
Some of you might be thinking, ew, no, that’s weird. But chillable reds are actually a thing! Some red wines are perfectly good for it, and some, in fact, are actually BETTER this way.
What makes a red wine “chillable”?
It all has to do with tannin. The reason we drink white wines cold and red wines not cold has to do with tannin. Tannin is the stuff in red wine that gives you that cotton-ball-mouth, drying sensation. It dries out your mouth (and is technically referred to as “astringency”). Red wines have tannin. White wines do not.
When tannins are cold, their astringency is exacerbated and they become too intense and no longer enjoyable or balanced within the wine. This is why you don’t drink red wines at fridge temperature.
However, the tannin level in red wines can vary considerably. So if a red wine has very low tannin content, it can certainly handle a chill without becoming too aggressive.
The less tannin a red wine has, the more you can think of it as on par with a white wine. Red wines with very little tannin can even be better when slightly chilled.
What are some red wines that can be chilled?
Ready to dip your toe in? Look for a light-bodied, low-tannin red. A Beaujolais (made from Gamay, from the French region of Beaujolais), for example, is a classic place to start. (Learn the ins and outs of Beaujolais here.)
Other low-tannin reds include varieties like Schiava, Frappato, Pelaverga, and Dolcetto.
Have you tried a chilled red?? Drop a line in the comments and let me know how it goes!
P.S. Are you a member of Sunday School Wine Society? Learn more about what to look for when shopping for a chilled red and specific producer recommendations in our Chillable Reds Shopping & Pairing Guide, and then take the chilled red pairing challenge! Not a member? Join! 👉