HONEY, I FROZE THE WINE!

3 min read

You want to drink the rosé or white wine you just bought but it's not chilled. You are thinking that if you put it in the freezer for a while it will reach the perfect temperature faster. So, you put it in. And you forget about it. After hours you run panicked to get it out of the freezer. In case you are lucky and it’s not broken, it will definitely have become a wine slushie. Now what; Can we drink a wine that has been frozen or we have to throw it away?

The answer is that we can drink it. Leave it in the fridge to defrost and drink it soon! Several things can happen to a wine when it freezes. Initially, if the cork is pushed out a bit, or if the screw cap seal is broken, then the wine may be oxidized and turn to vinegar overtime. The other thing that can happen is alterations to the taste of the wine. But we are talking about a change that very few will notice. On the other hand, tartaric acid that is present in wine is very susceptible to sudden temperature changes. If you freeze the wine, the tartaric acid forms crystals and precipitates. This means that the taste and the potential of aging the wine is changing. In any case, you can drink the wine but it is best not to freeze it unless you like wine slushies!

We have a tip for you if you want to chill your wine in a heartbeat, without freezing it! Fill a wine cooler or a deep pot with water and ice in a 50-50 ratio. Add some salt and create a vortex stirring with a spoon. Put the wine in for 15 minutes. We guarantee you that it will have reached the perfect temperature!

Cheers!

Eva Markaki

Wine Geek