When the evenings warm up, a big red can feel heavy and a little hot in the glass. The fix is simple, and the French have done it for years: pick a lighter red and give it a short spell in the fridge. Served slightly cool, the right chilled red wine tastes fresher, fruitier and far more inviting on a warm Australian night.
We are The French Carousel, an Australian shop for French wine.
Why chilled red wine works in summer
The old room temperature rule comes from cool French houses, where a room sits around 16 to 18°C. On a warm Australian evening a room is often 25°C or more, and at that temperature the alcohol stands out, the fruit tastes jammy and the finish turns flat. A little cooling brings lighter reds with soft tannins back into balance. Fuller reds with firm tannins only want the warmth taken off, because cold makes tannin taste harder.
Beaujolais and gamay first
If one red was made for a light chill, it is Beaujolais: gamay from just south of Burgundy, with thin skins, gentle tannins and juicy red and dark fruit. The label may say Beaujolais, Beaujolais Villages, a village name such as Lantignié, or one of the ten crus, such as Morgon.
Two bottles from Domaine Raphaël Chopin show the range. Domaine Raphaël Chopin Beaujolais Lantignié 'La Savoye' 2023 is the lighter, juicier of the two, with dark berries, sour cherry, raspberry and strawberry. The shop page pairs it with terrines, charcuterie, barbecued meat or grilled fish. Serve it at 14 to 16°C.
Domaine Raphaël Chopin Morgon 'Les Charmes' 2023 comes from old gamay vines in Morgon. It is fuller, with blueberry, black cherry and blackberry and fine tannins. The shop page pairs it with terrines, grilled steak, roast duck or veal. Serve it at 14 to 16°C.
Browse our Beaujolais wine shelf.
Other French reds that take a chill
In the Loire Valley, cabernet franc is lighter and more fragrant than most people expect. Château de Villeneuve Saumur-Champigny 'Clos de la Bien Boire' 2022 comes from a single vineyard on tuffeau, the soft white limestone of Saumur. Expect crunchy strawberry, raspberry and violet. The shop page pairs it with pâté en croûte, roast chicken, charcuterie or grilled meats. Serve it at 14 to 16°C.
For a Burgundy pinot noir, Domaine Louis Chenu et Filles Savigny-lès-Beaune 'Vieilles Vignes' 2023 is soft and elegant, with lifted red berries, flowers and a fresh earthy note. The shop page pairs it with beef bourguignon, roast beef with mushroom sauce, or duck. Serve it at 14 to 16°C.
For a wider look at choosing a red, read our French red wine guide or browse French red wine. For pours beside the grill, see chilled red wine for a summer BBQ.
How cold to go
Light reds such as Beaujolais, Loire cabernet franc and pinot noir taste best at 14 to 16°C after 30 to 45 minutes in the fridge. If the bottle comes out too cold, a few minutes in the glass will warm it on a warm night. Once open, keep it out of the sun and back in the fridge between glasses if the room is hot.
Fuller reds such as syrah, Bordeaux and Châteauneuf du Pape are best at 16 to 18°C, or 20 to 30 minutes in the fridge on a warm day, so the tannins do not taste hard.
For storage and more serving temperatures, see our guide to keeping wine cool. If chicken is on the table, our wine with chicken guide has more matches.
Please enjoy responsibly.
