When Wine Meets Summer – How to Keep It Cool Without Compromising the Taste
When the sun is shining and the grill is hot, there’s nothing better than a chilled glass of white, rosé, or sparkling wine. But how do you keep your wine cold in a way that’s both stylish and effective? Here are some simple recipes and smart tricks to elevate your summer wine experience.
Recipe: Wine Ice Cubes with Fruit
Wine ice cubes are not only beautiful in the glass – they’re also a smart way to cool your drink without watering it down. Here’s how to make them yourself:
You’ll need:
-
200–300 ml of wine (white, rosé, or red)
-
Fresh fruit in small pieces – e.g. strawberries, raspberries, melon, or orange
-
Ice cube trays (preferably silicone)
How to make them:
-
Cut the fruit into small pieces
-
Place the fruit into the ice cube trays
-
Pour wine over the fruit until covered
-
Freeze for at least 8–12 hours
Tip:
Use the same wine for the cubes as in the glass – it blends perfectly as the cubes melt. Rosé with raspberries, white wine with melon, or red wine with orange are great pairings.
Other Clever Ways to Keep Wine Cold
Looking for variety or serving larger quantities? Here are more methods to help maintain the ideal temperature – without compromising flavor.
-
Frozen grapes
Work like ice cubes but don’t water down your drink. Just drop them into the glass – functional and decorative. -
Wine chiller sleeves
Keep one in the freezer and slide it onto the bottle just before serving. It keeps wine cold for up to an hour. -
Ice bucket with salt and water
Salt lowers the freezing point of water, helping bottles chill faster than with ice alone. -
Freezable wine chill sticks with pour spouts
Insert into the bottle to chill from the inside – often doubles as a stylish pour spout. -
Chilling stones in metal or granite
Reusable and flavor-neutral. Best for fruity wines. -
Double-walled wine glasses
Keep your drink colder for longer – without freezing your hand.
Is It Okay to Put Ice in Wine?
It’s a personal preference – but absolutely, especially with lighter, fruit-forward wines. In warm countries, it’s common to serve rosé or white wine with an ice cube, especially during lunch or by the sea.
Best practice:
-
Choose fresh, young wines
-
Use large ice cubes that melt slowly
-
Or even better: frozen grapes or wine ice cubes
Did you know…
Because wine contains alcohol, it typically freezes between –5 and –9 °C, but a standard household freezer at –18 °C can easily freeze wine – it just takes a bit longer.
