View Articles by Category
Keeping Your Cool: How to Chill Wines
Learn to Chill Wine and Explore Some of Our Favorite Burgundy Wines to Drink Chilled
As the temperatures soar during summer (hopefully!), people often seek refreshing and cooling drinks to quench their thirst and enhance their al fresco dining. Among these, chilled wines hold a special place for food and drink lovers. We’re no different here at our home in Burgundy, the Domaine de Cromey, our baronial manor house which we open to guests to stay year round amongst the vines. Whether we’re enjoying a glass by the poolside, at a summer picnic, or during a casual evening gathering, chilled wines offer the perfect balance of crispness and flavor.
Chilled wines have grown and grown in popularity over recent years, for a number of reasons. In this article, we’ll explore why chilled wines are particularly appealing in summer, discover how to chill wine, and point you in the direction of some of the finest Burgundy wines that are perfect when served cold.
Why Chilled Wines are So Satisfying in Summer
1. Refreshing and Crisp: One of the most obvious reasons people opt for chilled wines in the summer is the refreshment they provide. When wine is chilled, a sensory transformation happens that enhances its crispness, acidity, and freshness. This makes it an ideal beverage for hot days when you want something light and revitalizing. Cooling wine heightens its flavors and textures, making it somehow more thirst quenching. For white wines and rosés in particular, the chill helps emphasize their fruity notes and delicate aromas, making them feel like the perfect summer drink.
2. Balance and Versatility: While red wines are more often served at room temperature, chilled versions of white and rosé wines are excellent pairings for summer meals, including seafood, salads, grilled vegetables, and light pasta dishes. The temperature of the wine complements these foods by enhancing their flavors and creating a harmonious dining experience. To discover some great summer dishes that you can pair your wines with in summer, head over to Ellie’s recipe section on our website.
3. Social and Outdoor Vibes: Whether it’s a barbecue or picnic, or exploring the gastronomic scenes in nearby villages and towns, chilled wines are the perfect beverage to accompany these occasions in summer. Let’s face it – there are so many beautiful places to visit in Burgundy when the weather is fine that here you’re spoilt for choice. A trip to Beaune, the capital of the region? Historic Autun? Or how about the mysterious Morvan Mountains?
How to Chill Wines Quickly and Effectively
It’s important to know how to chill wine properly to ensure it’s served at the optimal temperature. Overchilling or underchilling can negatively affect the flavors and aroma of the wine, so here are some tips for the best ways to chill your bottle.
- Refrigerator: The fridge is the most common and accessible way to chill wine. For white wines and rosés, about 90 minutes in the fridge should do the trick. For red wines that you prefer to serve slightly chilled, 30 to 45 minutes is usually sufficient. Just be careful not to forget the bottle in the fridge, as overchilling can mute the wine’s flavors. It’s also not a good idea to store open wine in a fridge, as any strong odours around it will likely be passed on to the wine.
- Bucket: The ice bucket method is perfect if you need to chill a bottle quickly. Fill the bucket half with ice and half with water, and place the wine bottle inside. The icewater mixture allows the wine to cool down faster than ice alone, usually within 15 to 20 minutes. Gently rotating the bottle in the ice bucket will help too, ensuring the wine is uniformly cooled without excessive exposure to the ice.
- Wine Chillers: For those who regularly serve chilled wines, a dedicated wine chiller can be a great investment. Wine chillers maintain a constant, ideal temperature for wine. They often come with adjustable settings and can be set to the optimal chilling temperature for different types of wines. Some even come with builtin ice packs to provide a portable, efficient cooling method when you're on the go.
- Cooling Sleeves: Another option for how to chill wine is a wine cooling sleeve, which is gelfilled and fits around the wine bottle. You place the sleeve in the freezer before use, and it keeps your wine cool for an extended period once placed around the bottle perfect for outdoor gatherings or picnics.
The Best Burgundy Wines to Drink Chilled
Now we know how to chill wine, which wines should you choose? Burgundy’s diverse climate and terroir make it a fantastic source of wines that taste great when served chilled. However, there are some wines that will not be likely candidates for chilling – your complex Corton-Charlemagne for example won't show its full array of depth and power if it is too cool; likewise, most red wines benefit from warmth or at least room temperature serving. The exception there might be Beaujolais wines, which are lighter and more likely to maintain their character if cooled before serving. For the best experience when chilling wines, try some of the following:
1. Chablis: Chablis is arguably one of the best white Burgundy wines to serve chilled in the summer. Made from Chardonnay grapes, Chablis offers a crisp, mineral driven profile with notes of green apple, citrus, and flinty undertones. The wine’s natural acidity and refreshing flavors react well to cooler temperatures, making it a delightful choice for hot summer days. Whether paired with seafood, oysters, or a fresh salad, Chablis is light, refreshing, and incredibly food friendly. View the Chablis range at BurgundyWine.com.
2.Rosé wines: Our wine shop at BurgundyWine.com has a selection of rosé and gris wines for you to try chilling this summer. From the Gabin and Felix Richoux Osez Le Rosé to the mouth watering Domaine Alain Vignot Bourgogne Cote Saint-Jacques Vin Gris, why not check them out here?
3.Pouilly-Fuissé: Pouilly-Fuissé is another Chardonnay from Burgundy that can be enjoyed chilled. Known for its rich but balanced style, this wine features bright citrus and floral aromas, along with a deliciously rounded mouth feel. A pleasantly refreshing acidity means it’s a perfect companion for summer dishes like grilled fish, sushi, or goat cheese salads. Check out our wines from this appellation here.
4. Crémant de Bourgogne: This is Burgundy’s answer to the more expensive Champagnes made elsewhere in France. But Crémant isn’t trying to be Champagne – it has its own reputation which has made it a firm favorite at any picnic or gourmet al fresco experience. You can view our full range here, but with such standout sparkling wines as Domaine Borgeot Cremant de Bourgogne and Louis Picamelot Cremant de Bourgogne 'Les Reipes' NV, you’ll be picnicking in style this summer!
Chill at Domaine de Cromey As Our Guest
Domaine de Cromey is located in the heart of the Burgundy wine region and is one of the most picturesque places for gathering with friends and family. The beautifully restored Manor House features six luxurious ensuite rooms arranged around a courtyard within the expansive grounds of a walled park and pool area. If you want to see how we chill wine here, this is the perfect place to relax with your favorite Burgundy wines. The modern comforts and quiet sophistication are reminiscent of another era. Your hosts, along with a dedicated team of chefs, housekeepers, tour guides, and gardeners, will warmly welcome you. Enjoy a sense of exclusivity that money can’t buy, complete with peace, luxurious accommodations, and exceptional service—all just a short distance from some of the best day trips and experiences to be found anywhere in Burgundy. Click here to book your vacation of a lifetime now.