Summer Chilling and Sipping Tips

Every wine has a sweet spot when it comes to temperature. Here’s a quick cheat sheet for keeping things just right:

• Sauvignon Blanc: 45–49°F (crisp and zesty at its best)
• Chardonnay: 50–55°F (lets the creamy texture shine)
• Pinot Noir: 55–60°F (brings out the delicate red fruit and silky texture)
• Zinfandel: 60–65°F (just below room temp to keep the boldness in balance)

Too cold? You’ll lose the wine’s aromas and complexity—flavors get shy and textures tighten. Too warm? Alcohol takes over and the wine can feel flat or overly ripe. Getting it just right helps every sip shine.

• Fill a bucket or large bowl about two-thirds with ice, then add cold water so bottles are fully submerged — this ensures full contact and even cooling.
• Stir in about ½ cup kosher salt per ~6 quarts of liquid (roughly half a 1-lb box). If using table salt, use ~⅓ cup since it’s finer — both work by lowering the freezing point and creating a super-cold slushy mix .
• Fully submerge bottles. Gently spin them every few minutes to speed cooling through better circulation.
• Keep your Sauv Blanc in the ice bath for about 25 minutes to reach the perfect chill. Chardonnay needs about a 20-minute dunk. Pinot prefers a 15-18-minute swim, and Zin reaches its sweet spot after about 12 minutes submerged.

• Use frozen water bottles instead of loose ice to keep coolers neat – and you’ll have ice-cold water to drink once the ice melts.
• Pour wines into insulated tumblers for stylish, temperature-stable sipping.
• Shade your wine and your guests — stage your sipping under a tree or set up umbrellas or pop-up tents.