Barrel Dork

We blind tasted 10 wines from Grocery Outlet. Here’s how it went…

To the brim

Chillable red wine season is here, and the sweet spot is a lighter-bodied red with low tannin, bright acidity, and plenty of juicy fruit. A little chill makes all that freshness pop—and keeps your red wine from feeling heavy on a warm day.

Here’s your chilled red cheat sheet:
🍷 Think cool, not kitchen-fridge cold. When in doubt, start a little cooler—it’s much easier to let wine warm up than cool it down once it’s poured.
🍷 If your wine fridge is set to around 55°F, pour it straight from the fridge.
🍷 If the bottle is stored at room temperature, give it 20–30 minutes in the kitchen fridge before serving.
🍷 Accidentally got it too cold? Let it sit in the glass for a few minutes. It’ll warm quickly.
🍷 Need it chilled fast? Try an ice-water bath for 5–10 minutes, or wrap it in a damp towel and place it in the freezer for 10 minutes. Just set a timer!

🍇 Reds to try with a chill: Gamay, Frappato, Schiava, Zweigelt, lighter Pinot Noir, Cinsault, and fresh, low-tannin styles of Grenache or Cabernet Franc.

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