The 7 Best Chillable Reds to Drink This Summer

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Let’s start with a simple idea: don’t be afraid to chill your reds, especially when it’s really hot outside. It’s not uncommon for summertime temperatures in the U.S. to hit 80, 90, or even 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and what is commonly referred to as “room temperature” doesn’t actually mean your living room or dining room but instead refers to the temperature of the cellar where wines are traditionally stored. Heat intensifies the feel of tannins in wine, especially the mouth-coating sensations and drying effects, which can make it unpleasant to drink, so lowering the temperature of the bottle is a good thing to do.

There are a few ways to get your wine to the proper temperature and keep it there. The easiest is to keep bottles at 55 degrees in a temperature-controlled wine cooler or in the cellar of your French chateau, but if you don’t have either of these, here are some alternative ideas. You can lower the temperature of your wine simply and effectively by submerging the bottle in an ice bucket for around 20 minutes, then pull it out, dry it off, and place it on the table. If you’re drinking slowly and the bottle starts to heat up, plunge it into the ice again. Repeat as necessary. You can also chill your wine by placing the bottle in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes, and don’t fret, you’ll still be able to discern the aromas and flavors if you don’t make the bottle too cold.

When considering what to chill, it is important to choose wines that are lighter bodied, have lower tannins and higher acidity, and are aged for less time in oak barrels than some of the bigger reds like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. One of our favorites is Gamay from Beaujolais, followed by Pinot Noir from just about anywhere in the world. We also like traditional Rioja blends and Garnacha from Spain, red blends from the Rhone Valley, Sangiovese from Italy, and Zinfandel from California. Here are seven we’ve been drinking and loving this week:

Domaine de la Grand’Cour 2023 Fleurie Le Clos Cuvée Vielles Vignes Beaujolais Burgundy

Image Credit: Domaine de la Grand’Cour

Domaine de la Grand’Cour was established in 1969 and came under the direction of organic winemaker Jean-Louis Dutraive in 1989. The Fleurie estate is comprised of three specific plots that total 22 acres, with one parcel aptly named Clos de la Grand’Cour. Jean-Louis has since retired and now spends most of his time in the Jura, but his daughter Ophélie has taken over the helm. Her 2023 Clos has aromas of cherry and crushed violet petals with flavors of red raspberry, brown baking spices, and red plum all wrapped in a soft tannic sheath.
Bodegas Lan 2021 Rioja Edicion Limitada Rioja

Image Credit: Bodegas Lan

Bodegas Lan was founded in Rioja Alta in 1972, and the name pays tribute to the three provinces of the , Logroño, Alava, and Navarra. Since its inception, the bodega has been known for its innovative, pioneering style and for the utilization of new techniques as they become available. Head winemaker Maria Barúa has been with Lan since 2002. Her Edicion Limitada 2021 is deep ruby garnet with aromas of blueberry, Oolong tea, black plum, and cinnamon that transition to flavors of ripe cassis, blackberry, orange peel, and a touch of ground clove on the palate. It has balanced acidity and a silky-smooth tannic finish.
Louis Latour 2022 Beaune Vignes Franches Premier Cru Cote de Beaune Burgundy

One of the best-known negociant growers in Burgundy, Louis Latour has vineyard holdings that cover more than 100 acres, including one of the largest collections of Grand Cru vineyards in the region. All the wines made from their own grapes are made at the Chateau Corton Grancey winery in Aloxe-Corton. This elegant and light Pinot Noir has aromas of cherry, strawberry, and freshly ground cinnamon with flavors of pomegranate, candied orange peel, and a touch of nutmeg in the finish.
Vizcarra 2021 Garnacha Terra Alta

Image Credit: Vizcarra

José Manuel Vizcarra Aguado was one of the first winemakers to plant vines in Ribera del Duero in the 1980s and passed his entrepreneurial spirit to his son, Juan Carlos Vizcarra Ramos, who joined the family business in 1991. In 2007, the duo oversaw the construction of their new gravity flow winery, and today, Juan Carlos is experimenting with small batch fermentation of grapes from very old vines. This stunning Garnacha draws you in with aromas of black plum, crushed violet, and cassis, which then transition to flavors of ripe black raspberry, brown baking spices, and a touch of dried Mediterranean herbs on the palate.
Cerbaiona 2022 Rosso di Montalcino Tuscany

Image Credit: Cerbaiona

You might not want to chill a venerable bottle of Brunello di Montalcino from an esteemed producer, but we think it’s perfectly fine to lightly chill a Rosso di Montalcino, the region’s easily drinkable second wine. Cerbaiona has not sent wines to journalists since 2017 because they don’t want their wines to be rated using a 100-point scale. We tasted a bottle at a friend’s house recently and think they have made an excellent 2022 Rosso di Montalcino wine, so we included it in this roundup. It has enticing aromas of bright cherry, pomegranate, and red currant with balanced acidity and rounded tannins supporting savory yet juicy flavors of ripe red and black fruits.
Storybook Mountain Vineyards 2019 Estate Reserve Zinfandel Napa Valley

Image Credit: Storybook Mountain Vineyards

Adam Grimm purchased 400 acres of land in 1883, and was later joined by his brother, Jacob, who oversaw the excavation of the estate’s existing wine cellars. In 1976, Jerry and Sigrid Seps purchased the abandoned site and replanted the vineyards with Zinfandel. Although the estate’s founders are not the Brothers Grimm, who were well-known authors of children’s tales, the Seps changed the name to Storybook Mountain Vineyards in homage to the site’s fairytale-like setting. Today, Jerry and Sigrid are joined by their daughter and son-in-law, and the story continues. Storybook Mountain 2019 estate Zinfandel has aromas of blackberry, blueberry, and a touch of brown baking spices that transition seamlessly to the palate with dark berry flavors and hints of spice joined by a soft note of dried savory herbs.
Domaine Charvin 2022 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rhone Valley

Founded in 1851, Domaine Charvin has been growing grapes for quality Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines for centuries, but only when Laurent Charvin joined his father, Gerard Charvin, in 1990 did the family bottle wine under their name. Domaine Charvin 2022 Chateauneuf-du-Pape has aromas of blackberry, plum, mixed dark fruit conserves, and saddle leather that draw you into the glass for tastes of black olive tapenade, raspberry, and red plum. Silky smooth tannins linger into a satisfying finish.