- Experts say half of Brits drink their rosé wine when it’s too cold
- The wine should warm for 15 to 30 minutes before drinking
There’s nothing like pouring a cold glass of rosé on a sultry summer evening.
But experts say half of Brits are drinking it all wrong.
Winemakers have warned it is a ‘common misconception’ that the drink should be served ice cold.
And instead, it should be removed from the refrigerator for up to half an hour before pouring so that it reaches the ‘optimal temperature’ for flavor.
A survey of 2,000 adults conducted by M&S Food found that 48 percent of people make ‘bad decisions’ by drinking their rosé at the wrong temperature.
Researchers say half of Brits drink their Rosé incorrectly due to the misconception that it should be enjoyed ice cold
M&S winemaker Belinda Kleinig said: ‘It’s a common misconception that rosé should be served ice cold, and that serving wine too cold can mute the fruity flavors and hide some of the aromas.
‘The optimal temperature for enjoying rosé is between 7 and 13°C, which means it’s best to take it out of the fridge about 15 minutes to half an hour before drinking it so that it doesn’t get too cold.’
Drinking rosé too warm can make it seem dull and less fresh, while muting the flavors and accentuating the bitterness.
That said, if it’s a particularly hot day, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with adding a few ice cubes to your glass of rosé; even wine experts do this themselves!’ Kleinig added.
Research shows that the optimal temperature for enjoying rosé is between 7 and 13°C, regardless of the type of rosé.
The report also shows that one in ten people believe that rosé is made by mixing red and white wine.
In fact, rosé wines are made using the maceration method, which involves pressing the grapes in their skins before removing the skins before the wine becomes too dark.
Meanwhile, twice as many respondents said they prefer pale Provençal-style rosé to darker styles from regions like California or Portugal.
Rose wine has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, with a bottle sold every two seconds in M&S last summer.
The research also found that the idea of keeping red wine in the fridge remains a foreign concept to many, with only one in six people considering it.
However, some lighter red wines benefit from being lightly chilled, as this can bring out their fruity flavors and make them more refreshing to drink, experts say.
Leave your wine out of the refrigerator for 15 minutes to warm up before drinking it, rather than pouring a glass straight away
M&S winemaker Sue Daniels said: ‘Contrary to popular belief, there are some red wines that really benefit from a break in the fridge.
‘About half an hour should be enough. Just make sure you don’t let the wine cool for too long, as the flavors will be muted and the tannins will appear sharper and drier.’
Finally, the poll found that the majority of people are unsure how long a bottle of wine will last after opening.
Lighter wines, including most white and rosé wines, can be kept in the refrigerator for up to three days after opening, the experts say, while full-bodied red wines can be kept for up to five days.
However, sparkling wines are best consumed within one to two days to retain their bubbles.
Last year, the company’s first survey found that a quarter of shoppers admitted to spending more than 10 minutes deliberating in the wine department – collectively wasting more than 50 million hours a year as a nation.
The problem was even worse among the younger generations, with one in six under 25s saying they spent more than 15 minutes choosing a bottle.