Wine Trends: Why Are So Many of Us Into Light and Chillable Red Wines Right Now?
Light, juicy red wines are having a real moment. Long before this summer's record-breaking May heatwave, customers visiting The Wine Shop in Winscombe were increasingly asking for lighter reds and wines they could happily pop in the fridge.
The chilled sparkling red Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro (£9.99) went down a storm on the Saturday Tasting Bench, as did the Regard d'Artiste Rouge Clair (£11.99), either a very pale red, or a very dark rosé depending on your point of view, and absolutely made for chilling.
We've also been keeping an eye out around the shop for the lighter side of red, as more and more of our visitors seek out satisfyingly fruity, food-friendly reds for dinner tables, parties and picnics.
To be super helpful, we have curated a selection of our favourites for our Light Reds for Summer Drinking Tasting on Friday 7th August, 7-9pm.
Why are lighter red wines so popular?
The rising outside air temperature obviously has something to do with it, but we had been in our jumpers in the shop until the heatwave hit, so that cannot be the sole explanation. So what else is going on?
Firstly, for health reasons, many of us are seeking out lower-alcohol wines. As an example, the Lambrusco above is 8% ABV rather than 12% or more for most other reds.
Government duty changes have also encouraged interest in lower-alcohol wines. Wine duty is now linked directly to alcohol strength, meaning higher-ABV wines attract significantly more tax. An 11% ABV still or sparkling wine now attracts duty of £3.03 per bottle, whereas a 14.5% ABV bottle costs £4.00 per bottle in duty. A 20% ABV bottle of Port costs us £5.51 per bottle in duty. So it is little wonder we are taking refuge from these duty changes in lower-alcohol wines.
Less formality in dining is also a factor, as we look for wines which can be enjoyed without food, or which pair well with a wider range of dishes, such as sharing boards with a mix of charcuterie, cheeses and antipasti.
We are also more open to newer styles than we were decades ago, and less willing to be dictated to in our style choices. Lighter reds often come from relatively unusual grapes, offering scope for exciting new wine discoveries. Exploring outside the big-name wine regions gives us a feeling of exclusivity, while still delivering excellent quality and taste.
Why chill a red wine?
Lighter reds also appeal to those of us who are very sensitive to tannins in wine, and who for this reason usually only like white wines. They offer an extra refreshing, summer-friendly option without the mouth-puckering, grippy tannins of many other red wines. At a recent tasting of lighter reds, one lady came who never likes reds, and she loved them all!
We also discovered at our recent BBQ wines tasting that versatility is key to pairing wine with a variety of char-grilled foods. You need to think about smoky, spicy and even caramelised flavours, as well as acidity in side salads.
So it was no surprise that we had a couple of very light reds well chilled, and a Frappato from Sicily lightly chilled. These are some of the most versatile wines there are, with bags of fruitiness to stand up to strong flavours and spice, enough acidity not to clash with salads, and the lightness not to drown out more delicate dishes.
We also notice that younger customers are especially excited about light reds, embracing unusual, innovative wines such as Groovy Mavrud, a very light chillable red wine from Georgiev & Milkov of Bulgaria (£22.49).
Lighter reds are often an excellent match for vegan and vegetarian dishes too, providing plenty of fruit and freshness without overwhelming more delicate flavours. The Mortellito Cala Niuru Frappato from Sicily (£20.00) is deliciously fruity and is certified organic, vegan and vegetarian friendly. It can be chilled too!
Three styles of light red wine to discover
To explore the lighter side of red, it helps to know there are three main styles.
1. Sparkling reds
Firstly, sparkling reds such as Lambrusco, although there are plenty of others worldwide to explore, including some juicy examples right here in Somerset. These are excellent chilled, but avoid mayonnaise with them, as the eggy umami can take away the fruitiness.
2. Clear reds and dark rosés
Secondly, clear reds, or what could also be called dark rosé. Called Clair, or Clairette in France because the wine is made clear, it is a red wine you can see through. Again, these are best chilled, with examples found most often in hotter regions where red wines need to be refreshing.
As well as Rouge Clair and Groovy Mavrud above, we have Odessos Urban Winery Claret Cabernet Franc (£23.99), with the berries and herbal lift we know and love, but without quite as much chewy tannic structure.
3. Lighter-bodied classic reds
Our third style is conventionally made red wine from grapes with thinner skins, such as Pinot Noir and Gamay. Beaujolais in France is the region for Gamay, from the exceedingly fruity Beaujolais Nouveau through to the 10 Crus.
Beaujolais Parcellaire (£13.99) and Fleurie La Madone (£18.99), one of the 10 Crus, by Bichot are both great introductions and pair well with sharing boards, duck and poultry.
Tinamou Pinot Noir from Chile (£9.49), with its sunny fruitiness, is a Wine Shop favourite. For wine explorers, try Odessos Urban Winery Pamid (£23.99), a Bulgarian grape variety with crunchy, juicy fruit, perfect for mezze platters and a favourite at the recent Odessos winemakers tasting.
All of these can be lightly chilled, especially in hot weather.
Discover your new favourite summer red
Whether you're already a fan of chillable reds or curious to try something different, we'd be delighted to help you discover a few favourites. Pop into the shop for a chat, join us at our Light Reds for Summer Drinking Tasting on Friday 7th August, or browse the full collection online. Everything in the shop is on our website, and more besides.