Maybe you’ve got unexpected visitors on their way, or the sun has made a miraculous appearance and a cool refreshing white wine in the evening sunshine is required immediately! Here are a few tips to chill your wine quickly.
The original ice bucket challenge.
An oldie but a goodie. Pop your bottle in the bucket, fill it with ice up to approximately 2/3 of the height of the bottle and add cold water – the water fills in the gaps between the ice cubes, creating a constant temperature and diffusing the coolness evenly. Another little tip which would help speed up this process is to add salt to the water – salt lowers the freezing temperature of water, allowing it to get extra cold. This method takes max 10-15 minutes to get your white wine from room temperature to perfectly chilled.
The Freezer Method:
If you don’t have a bucket glamorous enough for the dining room table, try the freezer method. Dampen a cloth under the cold tap, wrap it round the bottle and pop it in the freezer for 10-15 minutes, just don’t forget about it or you may have a rather explosive evening!
Chill by the glass:
If you just want to enjoy a glass or two you’re in luck - a smaller volume of wine will chill quicker, so you can always try popping a glass of your chosen white wine in the fridge and it should be ready to drink in no time!
Why not stick an ice cube in it?
Traditional water ice cubes are not the best idea – as they melt they will water down your drink and dilute the delicious flavours of your wine. Try using reusable ice cubes or ‘stones’, or try the DIY version of freezing grapes and popping them in your glass – they won’t dilute the wine, and it’s practically one of your 5 a day!
How cool do you go?
This raises the question at what temperature should white wine be served? Lighter-bodied, lower-alcohol wines should be served the coolest, say 8-10˚C, such as Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc and some simpler sparkling wines like Prosecco. Those with a bit more body and weight can be served at a slightly higher temperature, for example Chardonnay or Semillon, as colder temperatures numb the flavour profile, and you want to be able to enjoy these richer wines to their full potential. If you’ve had your bottle in the fridge for a couple of hours or more, make sure you take it out 10-15 mins before serving.
Now get out there, enjoy the sunshine, and get chilling!
