British Etiquette and leading wine experts say you SHOULD be chilling red wine this summer

Leading British etiquette and wine experts have today revealed that red wine lovers should be drinking their favourite tipple chilled this summer, despite over a third of Brits thinking that chilling red wine is ‘wrong’, and 29 per cent think it goes against wine etiquette.

Revealing insight into the UK’s wine drinking habits, the new research by Cono Sur Bicicleta showed that despite over 50% Brits stating they most enjoy drinking red wine, only 8 per cent favour drinking it during the hotter summer months, with 37 per cent choosing to cool down with the more traditionally chilled rosé instead.

The research also found that almost HALF (46%) of all Brits have never tried red wine chilled, with a third (32%) of them saying that they didn’t know red wine could be chilled and that it goes against wine etiquette (29%).

Furthermore, the research also revealed-

• Nearly half of Brits (46 per cent) find wine etiquette to be confusing
• Only 15 per cent consider themselves to be ‘wine connoisseurs’
• Half of those polled don’t leave their wine to breathe before drinking it

Of those red wine lovers who have already tried a Pinot Noir chilled, over HALF (57%) said it was refreshing and complemented their meal, cooling them down in the summer heat.

Philip Sykes, Principal of The British School of Etiquette says chilled red wine is a secret that many Brits are missing out on:

“Many people think that chilling red wine is a faux pas but this is definitely not the case, it just depends on the type of wine. Lighter reds such as a Pinot Noir you would usually chill to between 10 and 15 degrees. 

“In Mediterranean countries, it has long been customary to drink the lighter reds slightly chilled and we in the UK are moving in the same direction. On a balmy summer’s day there is nothing better than placing a bottle of Pinot Noir in the fridge and enjoying a nice chilled glass of red wine. It’s not only perfectly acceptable but will also bring out the flavours beautifully.”

Explaining the reasons behind why Pinot Noir is the perfect wine to enjoy chilled, Master of Wine, Alistair Cooper said:

“Enjoying certain red wines chilled shouldn’t seem like a strange idea! If you think of the fruit characters you often encounter with lighter, fruitier styles of red wines, like Pinot Noir: strawberries, raspberries and cherries, they are all fruits that you’d enjoy on a summer’s day straight out of the fridge, and the same goes for the wine. Chilling the wine down really helps those fabulous fruit character to sing and shine.”

To help Brits achieve the perfect chill this summer, Cono Sur Bicicleta Pinot Noir, the UK’s number one Pinot Noir, has launched a clever new label that changes colour when the bottle has been chilled to the ideal temperature.

Simply pop the bottle in the fridge, freezer or an ice bucket until the label’s bike turns blue! The famous Bicicleta bike on the logo signifies the winery workers riding bicycles to protect the delicate balance of nature and produce better tasting, more flavourful wines.

Hitting shelves in supermarkets and convenience stores nationwide in early July, the Cono Sur Bicicleta Pinot Noir’s RRP is £7.50 – providing fantastic value!