If you love the richness of red wine, but you’re worried you can’t enjoy them in the summer, that’s not the case. Red wines make a great addition to a summer meal if you know how to pair them correctly and how to enjoy them in the warmer months. Don’t worry about tucking your red wines away this summer. Instead, drink red wine no matter the temperature with tips like the ones below.
Cabernets and Grilling
There’s the common misconception that cabernet red wines are completely out of the question for summer, but they’re actually a great fit with a lot of grilled recipes. Cabernets have a lot of flavor and pack a big punch, and they also create a great balance with meats that have smoky flavors straight off the grill.
Look for cabernets with elegant, spicy and tart flavors to bring out the taste of your favorite grilled meats this summer.
When you’re choosing a cabernet for summer, look for ones that are soft on tannins, and maybe even have some fruity hints.
Decanting
Summer is a time that’s great for dry red wines, and these can benefit tremendously from the process of decanting them. Put your red wines in a decanter and let oxygen be introduced to it. This lets out the aromas and creates a smoother flavor.
Chilled Red Wine
A lot of people think chilling their red wine is a no-no, but this isn’t the case at all. A good rule of thumb is to put red wines in the refrigerator for about 20 to 30 minutes before you plan to serve it. This creates a brighter and more refreshing red wine to enjoy.
It can be excellent to chill red wines before an al fresco dinner party for example.
One of the biggest reasons people think you can’t enjoy red wine when it’s warm out is because it’s served too warm. It ruins the taste and the experience.
Of course, if you choose a red with a lot of oak and tannin, too much chilling is also a problem. Following the rule of thumb above of just chilling it for around 20 to 30 minutes usually works out optimally.
Lower Alcohol Content
If you’re drinking a really bold, high-alcohol red wine when it’s hot outside, it can take its toll. When you’re selecting a warm weather red, instead look for something with a lower alcohol content. Starting with around 12% alcohol is a good place to be. This is particularly important if you’re choosing wine for entertaining.
If you choose a higher alcohol wine it can have more of a noticeable effect in hot weather, so you may end up with intoxicated guests.
Red wine is the only kind of wine I drink. There is never a bad time for it ?
Red wines are my favorite for sure. This is an incredible guide!
I love red wine, especially during summer barbecues, but I am far from an expert. All of this information is so helpful. Thanks!
Oh, that is so great! Red wine is my favorite, so I love all this infor.
I am defiantly not an expert in wine and I learned some interesting facts that I never knew before! Also not sure what my favorite is but I’m excited to find out!
I am no wine expert, but I do love to drink it. And red is my preferred wine. I’m bookmarking this.
We buy both red wine and white wine in our household. We definitely prefer for red wine to be chilled rather than room temperature. You are right, a lot of wine drinking die-hard’s think that it’s a no-no, but I think it’s more decadent that way.
Great tips. We are wine fans in my house and enjoy them all year long but sometimes, it’s not as easy to pick the best ones for the warmer weather.
I am not a wine drinker, but the information is good. Thanks for sharing.
Great reminder about the higher alcohol content and warm weather! I love red all year- but always look for something a little lighter, less body, in the hotter months.
I have been wanting to learn more about wine. Red wine is my favorite. Thanks for the great information.
I’m not so much of a drinker myself. I do love having some wine once in awhile though. Red wine is a nice wine.
Oh how I love red wine! What a great guide, thank you!
I do enjoy a good glass of red wine no matter the time of year. Thank you for sharing these tips.
I like to drink wine, but I must admit that I don’t know a lot about them. I thank you for the knowledge. It is good to know how to drink these wines.
So helpful since I’m not a wine drinker but do like to have wine for my guests. Thanks for such an awesome and informative post.
I never knew quite a bit of the information you shared in this post. I’ll have to try and chill my red wine next time.
I am not a drinker, but I do find this fascinating anyway. The info about chilling red wine was new to me.
I used to only drink white, but got older and only do red. I am no expert but I chill, freeze and all! lol 🙂
Red wine is one of our favorites for summer! I think it pairs amazingly with my favorite dinner any time of the year! 😉
Red wine is the way to go! So perfect for a long day to kick back and relax!
I don’t much care for any wine but my gf loves to sit outside at the bonfire drinking it.
I never thought about chilling red wine. I always thought it was served at room temp.
Hello!
A great reminder about the higher alcohol content and warm weather! I love red all year- but always look for something a little lighter, less body, in the hotter months.