Have we been drinking our rosé far too cold?
On a warm summer’s evening, there’s nothing like a chilled glass of rosé in the garden.
But just how “chilled” is up for debate – as, according to experts, it’s time we put the ice buckets away.
They say that instead of drinking rosé straight from the fridge, it should be removed 15 minutes before pouring – and is best served at 7C.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.It comes after a poll of 2000 adults, carried out by M&S Food, reveals that 48 per cent of Britons are drinking their rose at the wrong temperature.
“It’s a common misconception that rosé needs to be served ice cold, and in fact serving wine too cold can mute its fruity flavours and hide some of the aromas,” said M&S winemaker Belinda Kleinig.
“The optimum temperature for enjoying rosé is between 7 and 13C, meaning it’s best to take it out of the fridge about 15 minutes to half an hour before drinking so it isn’t overchilled.
“That said, if it’s a particularly warm day there is nothing wrong with adding a few ice cubes to your glass – even wine experts do this.”
Rosé has seen its popularity surge in recent years, with a bottle sold in M&S every two seconds last summer.
The survey found one in ten adults mistakenly believes rosé is made by mixing red and white wine.
Twice as many said they prefer pale Provence-style rosé over darker types from regions such as California or Portugal.
Meanwhile, the research found only one in six drinkers would consider putting red wine in the fridge – even though some lighter reds benefit from being slightly chilled, as this can bring out their fruity flavour.
M&S winemaker Sue Daniels said: “About half an hour should do. Just be careful not to chill the wine for too long as this will mute the flavours and make the tannins seem harsher and more drying.”
Once in the fridge, the poll also revealed that the majority of people are unsure about how long a bottle of wine will keep after it has been opened.
Lighter wines, including most whites and rosés, can last up to three days in the fridge once opened, experts said, while full-bodied reds may keep for up to five days.
Sparkling wines are best consumed within one or two days to maintain their bubbles.
