‘Chilled reds?!’, you ask, mouth agape, ‘… but the days are so short and the nights so long - our peak chilled red days are surely behind us!’ - well, my friends, we’re here to tell you that they don’t have to be. Next time you’re bundled up next to the heater at night, give your old chilled red friend a chance - it just might surprise you.

What characteristics make for a great chilled red? Why, we’re glad you asked - chilled reds can be a real treat because of the taste experiences that we gain by decreasing the serving temperature. Fruit character gains more tension, and the structure becomes more crisp (whether that be in acid or in tannin). Generally, the best candidates will have lower tannin levels, more fruit-forward profiles, more acid, and forthcoming aromatic profiles.

Depending on the winemaking style and the region’s climate, there are some grape varieties that can lend themselves to this more than others - think Gamay, Pinot Noir, new world Grenache, Zweigelt, Bläufrankisch - but there are no hard and fast rules. In terms of winemaking, a process like carbonic maceration (like you’ll find predominantly in Beaujolais, but increasingly throughout the world with a number of different varieties) lends itself to creating wines that can be excellent for chilling.

Lots of the red & white blends that you’ll spy in the Lo-Fi sections of our stores lend themselves beautifully to chilling, with the aromatic profiles of the white grapes complimenting the juicy fruit character of the red varieties.

Want to start somewhere? Have a chat to the folks at your local Blackhearts & Sparrows, or head on over to some of our chilled red suggestions online.

GENTLE FOLK VIN DE SOFA

Who needs Vin de Soif when you've got Vin de Sofa?! This easy-drinking cuvée is a blend of cool climate Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Merlot - bringing all sorts of vibrant fruit and spicy undertones. Goes great with a chill, best consumed on the couch in your fanciest pyjamas.

CHILL RED FIELD BLEND

Fun, fresh, and fruity! This wine will perfectly compliment all your summer outdoor drinking needs.
You’ll find smooth, bright raspberry and cherry notes, with tight tannins that emerge when chilled, and just enough heartiness to stand up to the beefiest of BBQ snags.

MINIM HITCH SANGIOVESE NERO D'AVOLA

As always, excellent wine from Tim at Minim. Predominantly Sangiovese, with an 8% addition of Nero d'Avola, this is fresh & juicy Heathcote red at its finest! Tart candied red aromatics lead into red berries and a spritely palate. Light, easy-drinking, and absolutely delicious.

LE JUICE FLEURIE GAMAY

Coming from 35 year old bushvines planted in the ‘La Cabane’ vineyard in Fleurie. The fruit is carbonically macerated for ten days prior to pressing and then six months maturation in tank. The resulting wine is light and bright with raspberry fruit and leaves, a hint of grape bubble gum, whole bunch sap, and a floral character. Easy-drinking park wine!

JEAN-YVES PERON VERS LA MAISON ROUGE ROSÉ

Jean-Yves Peron has been crafting beautiful wines in Savoie since 2004, with the altitude and steep inclines of his vineyards making the act of tending to the vines at times seem more like mountaineering than viticulture. The 2018 Vers La Maison Rouge is a blend of Mondeusse and Gamay which underwent a short five-day maceration before being pressed and transferred to neutral oak for 12 months. This is a pristine and beautifully delicate rosé, with a vibrant core of red berries underpinned by a trademark minerality that Jean-Yves so expertly weaves into his wines.