should sparkling red wine be served chilled?

Answer 1

Sparkling Red
© by Gavin Trott


To a particular love of mine, sparkling red wines, or as they used to be known in Australia, Sparkling Burgundies. I'm not sure about the US experience, but many of us here in Australia were turned off these wines due to drinking light red concoctions tasting like sweet lolly water sold here in the 1960's and 1970's with names like "Cold Duck". These usually tasted like a blend of cough mixture and boiled lollies and have put a generation off what are very traditional Australian wine styles that are indeed world class.

So what are we talking about with sparkling red wines from Australia? Well, we are talking about quality red wines made in the same way as Champagne - that is, bottle fermented, aged on lees, then liqueured and left to develop in the bottle. However, instead of using Chardonnay and Pinot as the base wines, they use quality red wines.

These styles exist elsewhere in the world, notably in the Burgundy and Loire regions of France, but not in any quantity, or with the same quality. Only here in Australia do these tend to be taken seriously, indeed they are very much in fashion currently, and the range and variety are now truly exceptional.

What should you expect from these wines?

Well, imagine tilting an empty glass and pouring ... down the side runs a frothy liquid, vivid purple in color with violet and purple froth. Roaring out of the glass comes the smell of blackcurrants, blackberries, chocolate, cherries, strawberries and more. You finish pouring and slowly the froth settles into purple red wine with a steady mousse. Another sniff now shows hints of oak, sweet fruit and firm acid. Try some .... powerful fruit, dry yet seeming sweet, some acid and tannin on the finish as the flavours run over your tongue, berries, mushroom, spice, cherries and more. Makes me thirsty just writing about it!

What are these wines made from?

Well these days just about anything red. Most, and I think the best, are made from Shiraz. All that chocolate and rich smoky blackberry fruit just seems to suit the wine style. At one extreme we have the almost impossibly rare Rockford Black Shiraz. In the early days at least this wine started off life as a quality 10-year-old Barossa Shiraz before Rocky took to it with the fizz. Also try the Rumball which uses 100% Coonawarra Shiraz, or the Leasingham, using the same Clare Shiraz as their classy table wines do.

Some people are making this wine from Cabernet too, notably Yalumba, and most successful it is too, lighter in style than the Shiraz, but not light. After this we have some beautiful Sparkling Merlot, notably the Irvine. One or two make a sparkling Pinot Noir like McWilliams and then we have the something different wines, Tatachilla make a brightly colored Sparkling Malbec and D'Arenberg have just released their Sparkling Chambourcin.

How do we drink these wines?

These Sparkling Shiraz wines should be served slightly chilled. Naturally this depends on the conditions. If its summer and you want them with a barbecue for example, 30 - 40 minutes in the refrigerator helps them, it stops them seeming flabby and over alcoholic. However, if it's mid winter then room temperature will do fine. In short, don't overchill, or serve warm.

What do we drink these wines with?

Well, they are fantastic with your favorite pizza, served slightly chilled. They also drink wonderfully with Turkey particularly the sparkling Cabernet, and naturally also for barbecues where they hold their own. Added to this are any of the meat dishes that Shiraz style wines go with.

If you like experimenting, then try them also with Duck, char grilled Tuna, in fact, most meats char grilled. The lighter styles also make excellent aperitifs particularly on colder nights.

What wines should I try?

Inexpensive
Andrew Garrett
Hardys Sparkling Shiraz


Middle range
Mt Prior Sparkling Durif
Tatachilla Sparkling Malbec
Rumball


Premium
Great Western
Charles Melton Sparkling Shiraz
Leasingham Classic Clare
Irvine Sparkling Merlot
Henrys Drive Sparkling Shiraz

Answer 2

All red wines are to be served at 65 degrees. Many people don't know this. But way back when wine first was created reds were stored at room temp. but back then there were no heaters so the average temp in a home was 65 degrees.

But a sparkling wine should be chilled

Answer 3

I like mine slightly chilled. If you have a wine cellar, or a basement, this may be ideal. Or where you live, you might be able to set it outside for a bit. I don't like mine at fridge temp, but a little cooler than room temp. You can buy wine chillers that have adjustable temps on them, and those are handy. But if it is a Lambrusco or soemthing, I would recommend chilling it a little. Even reds, full bodied and everything, should be a little less than room temp, a common misconception by the public.

Answer 4

By all means, chill a sparkling red. These are meant to be slightly chilled. What kind do you have? I want some!!

Answer 5

sparkling red can be served chillled, in fact sparkling wine should always be chilled. the colder the better for sparkling!

Answer 6

If you don't serve it chilled, chances are when you pop the cork you are going to lose a lot of wine.

Answer 7

I think all sparkling wines should be chilled, the taste is crisper that way

Answer 8

Keep it chilled to preserve the sparkle.

Answer 9

it is a personal choice...whichever you enjoy themost. I personally would chill it slightly....not as much as a sparkling white wine.

Wine is to be enjoyed so dont feel you need to stick to old fashioned stereotypes and rules made by wine snobs

Answer 10

all "sparkling" wines are best chilled, they taste nasty at room temperature