Can you believe it? Another heatwave is about to hit us here in the UK. Officially, that's the fifth one now with temperatures exceeding 30°C. This one might even get close to 40°C
I can remember the almost mythical, long, hot summer of '76 when it stayed at 30°C+ for months on end without a drop of rain falling anywhere in the country. Drought conditions were severe with stand-pipes being set up in many regions. Not just a ban on hosepipes, you had to fill buckets at the end of the street for all your water. I think there was even a government information advert saying "Take a bath with a friend"! When ithe heat came abruptly to an end (with massive thunderstorms), the rain hardly ceased until Christmas arrived. You have been warned. History tends to repeat itself.
Britain might not be used to excessive heat, but Europe experiences it every summer. At the end of a tour of top Tuscan wineries, before going to the airport in Rome, I'd been taking in the tourist traps, queing to see inside Saint Peter's Basilica, with my shoes feeling like they were going to melt into the paving stones outside. Have you ever tried balancing on one foot to stop the other one from burning? Ouch. I couldn't leave the queue to get away from the heat. A little bit of suffering after some fantastic wines earlier in the week.
Also, on a wine visit to Western Australia, the group was being driven around the vineyards in an old American Greyhound coach. The air-conditioning inside was wonderful. It reached "icy" levels of chill which was much needed and appreciated as the outside temperature, when travelling north towards Perth, hit 39°C according to the driver. On opening the coach doors at a truck stop, the heat smacked you in the face like an oven. It was the only opportunity to get a cold drink before arriving at our next winery hours' away. I'm sure there were many onboard who would have killed for a cold beer. At least in Australia they had the good sense to have fully-chilled "drive-thru" liquor stores where all the stock (including cases) was ready to drink at the perfect temperature without the need to put in your own fridge. Ice cold "tinnies", wines, and professional level "barbies" in every home. We can learn how to do it better here, I think.
As for wines, we all know that whites taste much more refreshing when chilled. Some can even work with added ice, although this will end up diluting the flavour if you leave it for too long (why would you in this heat?). Rosé is another style that gets a "must serve chilled" label at this time of year, but many people still don't appreciate that certain reds will also work well at lower serving temperatures. Let's discover some of the red wines you should be consuming cool, and why it works.
Light-bodied, low-tannin, and fruit-forward red wines with vibrant acidity work best when chilled. Cooler temperatures enhance their fresh, juicy fruit flavours and make them incredibly refreshing. You should avoid chilling full-bodied, heavily oaked, or highly tannic reds (like Cabernet Sauvignon or Nebbiolo), because cold temperatures amplify bitter tannins and make the wine taste harsh and stripped of its aroma
For the best results, place these specific styles in the fridge for about 20 to 30 minutes to bring them down to a perfect serving temperature of 10°C–13°C
Best Red Wine Styles for Chilling:
- Gamay (Beaujolais): The ultimate chillable red. Its crunchy red fruit notes like raspberry and cranberry, combined with very low tannins, make it exceptionally thirst-quenching when served cold.
- Pinot Noir: Choose light, youthfully fruit-driven examples from cooler regions (such as Burgundy, New Zealand, or Oregon). Chilling highlights its delicate floral and cherry aromas.
- Frappato: A Sicilian native that features a pale colour and beautifully perfumed, sweet strawberry notes. It is widely celebrated by sommeliers as a premier choice for chilling
- Valpolicella: Made primarily with Corvina grapes in northern Italy, this style is light, bright, and tangy. It functions as a wonderful alternative to a crisp white wine
- Loire Valley Cabernet Franc: Look for lighter expressions from appellations like Chinon or Bourgueil. Chilling subdues the alcohol while accentuating its unique, crisp herbaceous and peppery qualities
- Austrian Zweigelt: This juicy, spice-tinged, and highly approachable red responds beautifully to being cooled down on a warm day
- Lambrusco: A naturally sparkling Italian red. Dry (secco) versions are traditionally served fully chilled and pair brilliantly with rich, fatty charcuterie boards
Dig out your ice bucket, add ice and water, drop in your favourite bottle and get out in the garden this afternoon. Bring on the sun. I can handle the heat if my red wine is suitably chilled. I'll even try a sparkling wine when I need a boost to keep cool. Aussie sparkling Shiraz, anyone?
NB - Watch out for the solar eclipse this evening. Don't miss it, as the next one is in 2090!