It’s the question that’s on everyone’s lips right now, so we thought we’d better down tools and find the answer. Not only that, but we’re also going to take a look at a few of your other favourite tipples so you know exactly what you need to do to make sure they’re also on top of their game. All you have to do now is pour yourself a glass of the good stuff, sit back, and spend a couple of minutes listening to our wise words. Trust us, it’ll be more than worth it…
Why would you want to freeze wine?
Another good question folks! Well, why wouldn’t you? You can make all sorts of mouthwatering treats and tasty creations if you know what you’re doing, and wine could be the key ingredient. You can also speed up the chilling process with help from the freezer, but from time to time you’re going to leave it in there a little too long and it’ll start to freeze solid.
But before we let you loose on all that, we need to get back on task and confirm whether or not you can actually freeze wine. The last thing you want to do is ruin a classy bottle of your favourite vintage by going rouge with the freezer.
Can you freeze red wine?
Yes! That’s the short answer, but we know you wine lovers will want to know a little more before you throw caution to the wind and let your best vintage take a hit. While cooling wine gradually in the fridge, or a dedicated wine cooler, is always the way to go, sometimes your drink just can’t wait. No one wants to have a mouthful of lukewarm wine, so you turn to the freezer for a frosty helping hand.
Your bottle will freeze just like any other liquid, with the precise time it takes depending on its temperature at the start and the alcohol content. More on that a little later! The key thing to note is that if you’re unlucky, your bottle can crack because the wine will expand a little as it freezes. It’s hard to know whether this will happen for sure, and most of the time it never does, but it’s certainly something you want to bear in mind!
Does champagne freeze?
Yup, it’ll freeze just like your red or white wine — provided your freezer isn’t feeling a little overworked by this point. You can also freeze prosecco and just about any other wine or spirit. All it takes is for you to pop it in the freezer drawer and let your white goods do the hard work while you sit back and relax. Now we’ve covered the obvious stuff, let’s get down to the most important stuff: taste!
Does freezing wine ruin it?
You’re on a roll here my friend because that is another excellent question! Freezing wine will subtly change the flavour because different ingredients will freeze at slightly different temperatures. Luckily for you, you have to be an expert in the field to really taste the difference, which means you can let your bottle thaw out and your tastebuds will be none the wiser.
This also means that if you pop your bottle in the freezer to give it a quick chill and forget about it, all is not lost. Take it out, let it thaw out naturally, and you’ll be popping the cork in no time at all. Just what you want to hear when it’s time to show your guests a good time that will surely live long in the memory.
How long does it take wine to freeze?
The key thing to know is that your standard bottle of wine is going to take about 5 hours to go solid, which means you’re unlikely to forget it if you pop it in for a quick chill when you guests arrive. Stronger wines will take longer than this because alcohol lowers the freezing temperature of the wine. Again, another helpful little feature of your favourite drink that makes you less and less likely to leave in there for too long.
If you don’t like the risk of cracked bottles that freezing brings, try and plan ahead whenever you can. By getting your bottles in the night before, and leaving them to put their feet up in the fridge or wine cooler, you can give the ingredients the smooth, relaxing buildup to your party they’ll have been expecting. From there you’ll have everything you need to entertain your guests without the headaches caused by having to explain the bar has run dry until you thaw out the next bottle.
Any tips on wine freezing from the pros?
Having a dedicated drawer in the freezer will make it so much easier to ensure the bottles aren’t damaged and the labels don’t become scratched. It’ll also allow the air in the freezer to move more freely, which in turn helps the efficiency of the freezing process. All this means that if you’re the kind of person who wants to make short work of chilling your wine, and never wants to risk damaging it, you’ll want to clear out a drawer this weekend. From there you can keep a nice little system going, set an alarm on your phone, and then pour an ice cold glass in style when it’s all said and done. Sounds like the stuff dreams are made of!
Anything else you need to know?
Honestly, we think that’s everything covered. If you can keep your freezer on good terms so it doesn’t mind the extra work, you can freeze and chill away for as long as you like. And if you leave it in the there a little too long and it goes solid, let it thaw out at room temperature and take it easy. The taste will hardly have changed, and you’ll be able to entertain your guests in style without them suspecting a thing. Now go and enjoy yourself…