Ice in wine has lost its taboo in recent years; we’ve said ‘goodbye’ to the days where dropping a cube in a glass of white was considered the ultimate faux-pas, and a big hello to serving our rosé or even champagne on ice during the warmer months. However, even the most chilled of us draw a red line (puns included) at drinking Merlot with help from the freezer, but this may be about to change with Lidl’s latest release.
Would you be tempted to try this wine on ice?
The budget supermarket has launched Vin Art Villányi Portugieser, which is a red wine that proper wine connoisseurs (not the ones you think you are after half a bottle of Pinot) say is especially best served chilled. So it’s sounds perfect for the heatwave, because wine lovers are currently torn between their love of a full-bodied red and cooling down in the sun. Because who really wants a lukewarm drink when it’s this hot?
Lidl’s Master of Wine Richard Bampfield says: “Not just any red qualifies for chilling. Leave blockbuster Cabernets in the wine rack until Autumn. What you want are light, fruity examples with lower alcohol and softer tannins. Time in the fridge will increase the freshness, so the wines taste juicier and even more appetising.”
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A bottle of Vin Art Villányi Portugieser costs just £6.99, and is apparently best served after 25 minutes in the fridge. If you’re wanting to entertain quickly (or just can’t wait - we don’t blame you), plunge the bottle into an ice bucket for 8-10 minutes.
So if you know anyone that thought that red wine in the summer could only be enjoyed by mixing with lemonade, fruit and orange juice to make a Sangria, then why not take great pleasure in proving them wrong? Plus, the best thing about drinking red outside is that there’s zero chance of splashing on the cream carpets. So we’re definitely taking advantage of this while we can….
