Over-refrigerating your wine? You need to chill with that.
Rosé, the summertime vino of choice, is typically thought of as a drink best served very cold. But experts call that a mistake — the kind made by amateurs.
“It’s a common misconception that rosé needs to be served ice cold, and in fact serving wine too cold can mute its fruity flavors and hide some of the aromas,” Marks & Spencer winemaker Belinda Kleinig told the Daily Mail.
Instead, everyone’s favorite pink drink should be served at 44–55 degrees Fahrenheit — slightly warmer than your refrigerator.
To achieve that optimal temperature, and avoid making a rose-colored spectacle of yourself at your next party, “it’s best to take it out of the fridge about 15 minutes before drinking,” Kleinig explained.
A recent survey of 2,000 adults by M&S, a U.K. department store chain famed for its food halls and wine selection, revealed the chilling truth — nearly half of respondents drink the hot weather beating beverage at the wrong temperature, meaning they might be consuming tasteless rosé.
Conversely, researchers also found respondents hesitant to store red wine at lower temps, despite it being a good idea, at least temporarily, per experts.
“Contrary to popular belief, there are some red wines which actually benefit from a short while in the fridge,” fellow M&S winemaker Sue Daniels told Daily Mail.
“About half an hour should do. Just be careful not to chill the wine for too long, as this will mute the flavors and make the tannins seem more harsh and drying.”
And while wine lovers wouldn’t dare put ice in a glass of pinot noir, experts say that a few cubes dropped in your rosé will have the good kind of chilling effect, Kleinig noted.
The poll also showed that many people don’t know exactly how long a bottle of wine remains fresh after uncorking.
According to experts, whites and rosés have a life of about 3 days after opening, while reds can last 5 days.
Sparkling wines, on the other hand, must be consumed within a day or two after opening lest their bubbles fall flat.
Sommeliers recently revealed other common misconceptions and mistakes regarding wine, such as being easily swayed by critics’ scores and high price tags, what foods make delicious pairings and how wine is best served.
According to some, ice cubes are strictly forbidden, and some would even prefer frozen grapes instead, as not to water down the glass of vino.
Wine should also not be stored in hot environments over 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, otherwise they could spoil and turn to vinegar, the pros pointed out.
