- Experts say that half of Britons are drinking their rosé wine when it is too cold
- The wine should be allowed to warm up for 15 to 30 minutes before drinking
There’s nothing quite like pouring a cold glass of rosé on a balmy summer’s evening.
But half of Brits are drinking it all wrong, according to experts.
Winemakers have warned it is a ‘common misconception’ that the drink needs to be served ice cold.
And instead, it should be taken out of the fridge for up to half an hour before being poured so that it reaches the ‘optimum temperature’ for taste.
A poll of 2,000 adults, carried out by M&S Food, reveals that 48 per cent of people are making ‘poor decisions’ by drinking their rosé at the wrong temperature.
Researchers say that half of Brits are drinking their Rosé incorrectly due to a misconception that it should be drunk ice cold
M&S winemaker Belinda Kleinig said: ‘It’s a common misconception that rosé needs to be served ice cold, and in fact serving wine too cold can mute its fruity flavours and hide some of the aromas.
‘The optimum temperature for enjoying rosé is between 7–13°C, meaning it’s best to take it out of the fridge about 15 minutes to half an hour before drinking so it isn’t overchilled.’
Drinking rosé too warm can make it seem dull and less fresh, while muting flavour compounds and accentuating bitterness.
‘That said, if it’s a particularly warm day there is absolutely nothing wrong with adding a few ice cubes to your glass of rosé – even wine experts do this themselves!’ Kleinig added.
A study says that the optimum temperature for enjoying rosé is between 7–13°C, no matter what type of rosé it is
The report also found that one in 10 people believe rosé is made by mixing red and white wine together.
In actual fact, rosé wines are made using the maceration method, where the grapes are pressed while in their skins before the skins are removed before the wine becomes too dark.
Meanwhile, twice as many respondents said they prefer pale Provence-style rosé over darker styles from regions like California or Portugal.
Rosé wine has seen an enormous surge in popularity in recent years, with a bottle sold in M&S every two seconds last summer.
The research went on to reveal that the idea of putting red wine in the fridge remains an alien concept for many, with only one in six people considering it.
However, some lighter red wines do benefit from being slightly chilled, as this can bring out their fruity flavours and make them more refreshing to drink, experts said.
You should let your wine sit for 15 minutes out of the fridge to warm up before drinking, rather than pouring a glass right away
M&S winemaker Sue Daniels said: ‘Contrary to popular belief, there are some red wines which actually benefit from a short while in the fridge.
‘About half an hour should do. Just be careful not to chill the wine for too long as this will mute the flavours and make the tannins seem more harsh and drying.’
Finally, the poll showed that the majority of people are unsure about how long a bottle of wine will keep once it has been opened.
Lighter wines, including most whites and rosés, can last up to three days in the fridge once opened, the experts said, while full-bodied reds may keep for up to five days.
Sparkling wines, however, are best consumed within one to two days to maintain their bubbles.
Last year, the company’s first piece of research found that a quarter of shoppers admitted to spending more than 10 minutes deliberating in the wine aisle – adding up to over 50 million hours collectively wasted each year as a nation.
The problem was even starker in the younger generations, with one in six young people under 25 saying they had spent over 15 minutes trying to choose a bottle.
