The idea that red wine is best consumed at "room temperature" is probably only a little older than the attempt to make this nonsense a thing of the past. Nevertheless, it is surprisingly persistent. Even 20 degrees is actually too warm for any wine, and at 28 degrees even the best red wine is just broth. This makes it all the more surprising how many restaurants, bars and pubs serve red wines unchilled even in the hottest summer heat. Because: room temperature. The sacrilege is only officially committed when you order ice cubes to go with it.
Oh, you can, in fact you should! Not only does even the strongest, most tannic red wine taste better at less than 20 degrees than above, many reds are also suitable for drinking noticeably cooler.
Just not the ones with the most tannin. There are basically only two rules: Take reds with more moderate tannins and those with as little flavourful wood as possible. Both become more dominant the cooler the wine is served. A fruity and fresh character can also do no harm. But in the end, it's a matter of taste whether you choose a crisp, cherry-fruity Zweigelt, an elegant Pinot Noir or a complex, heavy Chateauneuf-du-Pape. You can't go wrong here - whatever tastes good is allowed. Dogmas have no place in the world of wine anyway. And the best thing about it: if the wine gets too cold, just be patient - it will warm up on its own.
Speaking of dogmas: the next time you are served wine at the temperature of bath water in a restaurant, order ice cubes to go with it! The trick is to make a face as if everyone else is a fool. After all, they are!
Below are our suggestions from the current tasting, very (really very) roughly sorted by style.
Bertram-Baltes
— Ahr
2022 Walporzheim Kräuterberg Spätburgunder
94 WP
excellent
68.00 €
Bertram-Baltes
— Ahr
2022 Marienthal Trotzenberg Spätburgunder
93 WP
excellent
58.00 €
Domaine Uchida
— Bordeaux
2022 Haut-Médoc AOC Cuvée "Rosa"
54.00 €
Bertram-Baltes
— Ahr
2022 Dernau Pfarrwingert Spätburgunder
92 WP
excellent
45.00 €
Weingut Ziereisen
— Oberrhein
2021 Pinot Noir Landwein "Jaspis Zipsin" Alte Reben
91 WP
excellent
45.00 €
Bertram-Baltes
— Ahr
2022 Dernau Goldkaul Spätburgunder
90 WP
excellent
52.00 €
Bertram-Baltes
— Ahr
2022 Dernau Hardtberg Spätburgunder
90 WP
excellent
38.00 €
Weingut Ziereisen
— Oberrhein
2021 Syrah Landwein "Jaspis Däublin"
90 WP
excellent
51.80 €
Weingut Ziereisen
— Oberrhein
2021 Landwein "RH21"
90 WP
excellent
34.00 €
Weingut Eisele
— Neckar
2021 Lemberger Landwein trocken "Muschelkalk" Goldkapsel
25.00 €
Weingut Steintal
— Franconia/Franken
2021 Klingenberg Schloßberg Spätburgunder Grosses Gewächs trocken
90 WP
excellent
74.00 €
Tomislav Markovic
— Oberrhein
2022 Spätburgunder Landwein "At Forest"
89 WP
very good
58.00 €
Weingut Seeger
— Baden
2021 Leimen Herrenberg Blauer Spätburgunder VDP.Grosses Gewächs trocken "Spermen R"
89 WP
very good
36.00 €
Bertram-Baltes
— Ahr
2022 Neuenahr Sonnenberg Frühburgunder
89 WP
very good
38.00 €
Bertram-Baltes
— Ahr
2022 Ahrweiler Forstberg Spätburgunder
89 WP
very good
32.00 €
Bertram-Baltes
— Ahr
2022 Ahrweiler Spätburgunder
89 WP
very good
24.00 €
Bertram-Baltes
— Ahr
2022 Ahrweiler Rosenthal Spätburgunder
89 WP
very good
42.00 €
Bertram-Baltes
— Ahr
2022 Dernau Spätburgunder
89 WP
very good
24.00 €
Weingut Eisele
— Neckar
2021 Lemberger Landwein trocken "Gipskeuper" Goldkapsel
25.00 €
Weingut Steintal
— Franconia/Franken
2021 Bürgstadt Hunsrück Spätburgunder Grosses Gewächs trocken
89 WP
very good
69.00 €
Tomislav Markovic
— Oberrhein
2022 Spätburgunder Landwein "Windspiel"
88 WP
very good
20.00 €
Weingut Rinke / Rinke-Weine
— Mosel
2022 Wiltingen Braunfels Frühburgunder
88 WP
very good
18.00 €
Bertram-Baltes
— Ahr
2022 Spätburgunder "Handwerk"
88 WP
very good
14.50 €
Weingut Rinke / Rinke-Weine
— Mosel
2022 Langsur Brüderberg Pinot Noir "S" Muschelkalk
88 WP
very good
28.00 €
Weingut Giegerich
— Franconia/Franken
2022 Rück Spätburgunder Ortswein trocken Alte Reben
88 WP
very good
19.00 €
Weingut Georg Breuer
— Rheingau
2022 Spätburgunder trocken "GB Rouge"
88 WP
very good
19.50 €
Winzerei Lüttmer
— Mitteldeutschland
2022 Weischütz Nüssenberg Frühburgunder Landwein trocken "Pinot S - Herr Lüttmer"
39.00 €
Weingut Ziereisen
— Oberrhein
2021 Landwein "GE21"
88 WP
very good
22.00 €
Weingut Ziereisen
— Oberrhein
2021 Landwein "S21"
88 WP
very good
22.00 €
Weingut Ziereisen
— Oberrhein
2021 Landwein "TAL21"
88 WP
very good
17.80 €
Weingut Steintal
— Franconia/Franken
2021 Großheubach Bischofsberg Spätburgunder Grosses Gewächs trocken
88 WP
very good
59.00 €
Weingut Steintal
— Franconia/Franken
2021 Bürgstadt Berg Spätburgunder VDP.Erste Lage trocken
88 WP
very good
43.00 €
Weingut Zimmerle
— Württemberg
2022 Trollinger trocken "Architekt"
87 WP
very good
9.90 €
Weingut Rinke / Rinke-Weine
— Mosel
2022 Pinot Noir Réserve "Vom Schiefer"
87 WP
very good
18.00 €
Weingut Feldtheorie
— Lower Austria/Niederösterreich
2022 Landwein trocken "RELATIV Rot"
87 WP
very good
Winzerei Lüttmer
— Mitteldeutschland
2022 Weischütz Nüssenberg Frühburgunder Landwein trocken "Pinot - Frau Lüttmer"
29.00 €
Ronchi di Cialla
— Friuli/Venezia-Giulia
2021 Friuli Colli Orientali Doc Schioppettino "RiNera"
Weingut Eisele
— Neckar
2021 Lemberger Landwein trocken "Muschelkalk" Silberkapsel
16.00 €
Weingut Steintal
— Franconia/Franken
2021 Klingenberg Spätburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken Alte Reben
87 WP
very good
32.00 €
Domaine du Colombier
— Rhône
2021 Hermitage AOC rouge
65.00 €
Domaine du Colombier
— Rhône
2022 Crozes-Hermitage AOC Cuvée "Gaby"
35.00 €
Domaine Pierrick Bouley
— Burgundy
2021 Volnay AOC "Les Pluchots"
79.50 €
Weingut Franz Keller
— Baden
2022 Jechtingen Enselberg Spätburgunder VDP.Erste Lage
91 WP
excellent
40.00 €
Weingut Greiner
— Baden
2021 Pinot Noir Landwein trocken "Vulkan"
91 WP
excellent
45.00 €
Weingut Seeger
— Baden
2021 Leimen Herrenberg Blaufränkisch VDP.Grosses Gewächs trocken "Spermen R"
91 WP
excellent
28.50 €
Weingut Ziereisen
— Oberrhein
2021 Landwein "Jaspis Hermann"
91 WP
excellent
58.00 €
Weingut Karl Haidle
— Württemberg
2021 Stetten Gernhalde Lemberger VDP.Grosses Gewächs trocken
91 WP
excellent
58.00 €
AdamsWein
— Rheinhessen
2021 Ingelheim Pares Spätburgunder trocken
91 WP
excellent
79.00 €
Weingut Franz Keller
— Baden
2022 Oberrotweil Spätburgunder VDP.Ortswein
90 WP
excellent
32.00 €
Weingut Zimmerle
— Württemberg
2021 Korb Sommerhalde Zweigelt trocken "Goldadler"
90 WP
excellent
36.00 €
Weingut Greiner
— Baden
2021 Spätburgunder Landwein trocken "Steinkreuz"
90 WP
excellent
35.00 €
Weingut Fritz Waßmer
— Baden
2021 Bombach Sommerhalde Grauburgunder
52.00 €
AdamsWein
— Rheinhessen
2021 Ingelheim Horn Spätburgunder trocken
90 WP
excellent
55.00 €
Soc. Agr. Bertinga S.r.l.
— Tuscany
2021 Chianti Classico DOCG "La Porta di Vertine"
Up to 25.00 €
Weingut Ehrhart GbR
— Pfalz
2022 Leinsweiler Sonnenberg Spätburgunder trocken Réserve
89 WP
very good
40.00 €
Weinbau Familie Stritzinger
— Franconia/Franken
2022 Klingenberg Schloßberg Spätburgunder trocken
89 WP
very good
16.90 €
Weingut Stich "Im Löwen"
— Franconia/Franken
2021 Bürgstadt Centgrafenberg Frühburgunder trocken
89 WP
very good
19.00 €
Domaine du Colombier
— Rhône
2022 Crozes-Hermitage AOC
21.00 €
Mas de Daumas Gassac
— Languedoc
2022 Saint Guilhem le Désert IGP Syrah-Marselan-Mourvèdre
20.00 €
Tomislav Markovic
— Oberrhein
2022 Spätburgunder Landwein "On the Rocks"
89 WP
very good
34.00 €
Weingut J.J. Adeneuer
— Ahr
2022 Spätburgunder trocken "J.J. Adeneuer N°1"
89 WP
very good
30.00 €
Torraccia del Piantavigna
— Piedmont
2022 Colline Novaresi DOC Nebbiolo "Neb"
Up to 15.00 €
Weingut Franz Keller
— Baden
2022 Oberbergen Bassgeige Spätburgunder VDP.Erste Lage
89 WP
very good
28.00 €
Rubens Wein
— Württemberg
2022 Pinot Noir trocken
89 WP
very good
20.00 €
Weingut Greiner
— Baden
2022 Spätburgunder Landwein trocken
89 WP
very good
16.00 €
Weingut Seeger
— Baden
2022 Leimen Herrenberg Blauer Spätburgunder VDP.Erste Lage trocken "S"
89 WP
very good
23.00 €
Weingut Seeger
— Baden
2022 Pinot Noir trocken "Kollektion Anna Marie"
89 WP
very good
29.50 €
Weingut Seeger
— Baden
2021 Blaufränkisch trocken "S"
89 WP
very good
20.50 €
Weingut May
— Franconia/Franken
2021 Retzbach Benediktusberg Spätburgunder VDP.Erste Lage trocken
89 WP
very good
44.00 €
Weingut Umathum
— Burgenland
2021 trocken Cuvée "Haideboden®"
24.00 €
Weingut Kopp
— Baden
2021 Spätburgunder Landwein trocken Réserve
89 WP
very good
25.00 €
Weingut Giegerich
— Franconia/Franken
2021 Großwallstadt Lützeltaler Berg Spätburgunder trocken "Pitztaler Berg"
89 WP
very good
32.00 €
Weingut Karl Haidle
— Württemberg
2021 Stetten Häder Lemberger VDP.Erste Lage trocken
89 WP
very good
25.90 €
AdamsWein
— Rheinhessen
2021 Ingelheim Auf dem Haun Spätburgunder trocken
89 WP
very good
39.00 €
AdamsWein
— Rheinhessen
2021 Ingelheim Heerweg Spätburgunder trocken
89 WP
very good
25.00 €
HERRENHOF LAMPRECHT
— Steirerland
2021 Landwein trocken "Buchertberg® rot"
89 WP
very good
16.00 €
Weingut Ehrhart GbR
— Pfalz
2022 Gleiszellen Frühmess Spätburgunder trocken Réserve
89 WP
very good
20.00 €
Weingut Wasem
— Rheinhessen
2022 Pinot Noir trocken Reserve
89 WP
very good
38.00 €
Weingut Ehrhart GbR
— Pfalz
2022 Leinsweiler Sonnenberg Spätburgunder trocken
88 WP
very good
24.00 €
Weingut Deutzerhof
— Ahr
2022 Mayschoss Frühburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken "A&O"
88 WP
very good
26.00 €
MorisFarms
— Tuscany
2022 Morellino di Scansano DOCG
10.90 €
Domaine du Colombier
— Rhône
2023 Crozes-Hermitage AOC "Primavera"
15.00 €
Weingut J.J. Adeneuer
— Ahr
2021 Spätburgunder trocken "J.J. Adeneuer N°1"
88 WP
very good
30.00 €
Weingut Will und Würz
— Schwaben
2023 Merlot-Syrah Landwein "Steinriegel"
88 WP
very good
Up to 25.00 €
Weingut Zimmerle
— Württemberg
2021 Korb Sommerhalde Trollinger trocken "Goldadler"
88 WP
very good
18.20 €
Weingut Zimmerle
— Württemberg
2021 Spätburgunder trocken "Goldadler" Réserve
88 WP
very good
39.00 €
Weingut Zimmerle
— Württemberg
2021 Korb Berg Spätburgunder trocken "Goldadler"
88 WP
very good
36.00 €
Weingut Zehnthof - Luckert
— Franconia/Franken
2022 Sulzfeld Frühburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
22.00 €
Weingut Zehnthof - Luckert
— Franconia/Franken
2022 Sulzfeld Spätburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken
88 WP
very good
22.00 €
Weingut May
— Franconia/Franken
2022 Retzstadt Langenberg Spätburgunder VDP.Erste Lage trocken
88 WP
very good
22.00 €
Weingut Fritz Waßmer
— Baden
2021 Spätburgunder trocken Alte Reben
29.90 €
Tenuta Vicchiomaggio s.r.l.
— Tuscany
2022 Chianti Classico DOCG "Guado Alto"
19.00 €
Weingut Knewitz
— Rheinhessen
2021 Ingelheim Spätburgunder VDP.Aus Ersten Lagen trocken
88 WP
very good
Società Agricola Istine
— Tuscany
2021 Chianti Classico DOCG
18.00 €
Vigneti Costacurta
— Piedmont
2021 Colline Novaresi DOC Nebbiolo "Tintaunita"
17.00 €
Staatlicher Hofkeller
— Franconia/Franken
2022 Würzburg Stein Spätburgunder VDP.Erste Lage trocken
88 WP
very good
16.00 €
Azienda Barbaglia Silvia
— Piedmont
2022 Colline Novaresi DOC Vespolina "Ledi"
25.00 €
Castello di Montecavallo
— Piedmont
2022 Coste della Sesia DOC Rosso "Cajanto"
88 WP
very good
19.00 €
Weingut Giegerich
— Franconia/Franken
2022 Frühburgunder trocken "Wörther & Grosswallstadter"
88 WP
very good
21.00 €
Weingut Klumpp
— Baden
2021 Bruchsal Rothenberg St. Laurent trocken
88 WP
very good
32.00 €
Kellerei Girlan
— Alto Adige
2021 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Vernatsch Alte Reben, "Gschleier"
88 WP
very good
18.00 €
Weingut Garlider
— Alto Adige
2021 Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT Blauburgunder
88 WP
very good
25.00 €
Weingut Schloss Westerhaus
— Rheinhessen
2021 Ingelheim Schloss Westerhaus Spätburgunder Grosses Gewächs trocken
88 WP
very good
30.00 €
Weingut Eisele
— Neckar
2021 Zweigelt Landwein trocken "Muschelkalk" Silberkapsel
16.00 €
Bürgerspital zum Hl. Geist - Weingut
— Franconia/Franken
2022 Würzburg Stein Blaufränkisch VDP.Erste Lage trocken
88 WP
very good
23.00 €
Weingut Wasem
— Rheinhessen
2022 Ingelheim Pares Spätburgunder trocken
88 WP
very good
20.00 €
Kremers Winzerhof
— Franconia/Franken
2022 Großheubach Bischofsberg Frühburgunder trocken ***
87 WP
very good
15.00 €
Weingut J.J. Adeneuer
— Ahr
2022 Spätburgunder trocken "J.J. Adeneuer N°2"
87 WP
very good
18.00 €
Weingut Poth
— Franconia/Franken
Tauberrettersheim Königin Schwarzriesling trocken "hoch3"
87 WP
very good
9.00 €
Weingut Lisa Bunn
— Rheinhessen
2022 Nierstein Spätburgunder trocken "vom Rotliegenden"
87 WP
very good
20.00 €
Castello di Querceto
— Tuscany
2022 Chianti Classico DOCG
87 WP
very good
13.00 €
Weingut Ehrhart GbR
— Pfalz
2022 trocken Cuvée "kleiner Wingert"
87 WP
very good
13.00 €
Weingut und Buschenschank Michaela Riedmüller
— Lower Austria/Niederösterreich
2022 Carnuntum DAC Ried Braunsberg Zweigelt trocken "Rubin Carnuntum"
87 WP
very good
11.60 €
Weingut Hauck
— Rheinhessen
2021 Ensheim Kachelberg Spätburgunder trocken Réserve
87 WP
very good
12.50 €
Weingut Müller-Catoir
— Pfalz
2022 Haardt Spätburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken
87 WP
very good
22.40 €
Castello di Meleto
— Tuscany
2022 Chianti Classico DOCG
87 WP
very good
18.00 €
Weingut Seeger
— Baden
2021 Leimen Herrenberg Blauer Spätburgunder VDP.Erste Lage trocken "S"
87 WP
very good
23.00 €
Oliver Zeter
— Pfalz
2022 Pinot Noir
87 WP
very good
12.50 €
Weingut Lisa Bunn
— Rheinhessen
2021 Nierstein St. Laurent trocken "vom Rotliegenden"
87 WP
very good
16.50 €
Gratus Weinwerkstatt
— Lower Austria/Niederösterreich
2022 Thermenregion Ried Frauenfeld St. Laurent trocken
87 WP
very good
19.00 €
Weingut Fritz Waßmer
— Baden
2021 Spätburgunder trocken "M"
17.90 €
Rocca di Castagnoli
— Tuscany
2022 Chianti Classico DOCG
18.00 €
Badia a Coltibuono - La Badia srl
— Tuscany
2022 Chianti DOCG "Cetamura"
11.00 €
Weingut Deutzerhof
— Ahr
2021 Ahrweiler Spätburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken "Caspar" - Alte Reben
87 WP
very good
25.00 €
Staatlicher Hofkeller
— Franconia/Franken
2022 Großheubach Spätburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken
87 WP
very good
12.90 €
Platinetti Guido Az. Agricola
— Piedmont
2022 Colline Novaresi DOC Nebbiolo
87 WP
very good
13.00 €
Cantina Comero di Cominoli Paolo
— Piedmont
2021 Colline Novaresi DOC Vespolina
11.00 €
Hendriks & Fürst Weine
— Württemberg
2021 Nonnenhorn Seehalde Spätburgunder trocken
87 WP
very good
22.00 €
Weingut Wachtstetter
— Württemberg
2021 Pfaffenhofen Lemberger VDP.Ortswein trocken "Felix"
87 WP
very good
11.50 €
Weingut Wachtstetter
— Württemberg
2021 trocken Cuvée "Louis"
87 WP
very good
11.50 €
Weinbau Fecher
— Franconia/Franken
2021 Klingenberg Schloßberg Spätburgunder trocken
87 WP
very good
11.50 €
Grosjean Vins
— Aosta valley
2022 Valle d'Aoste DOC "Torrette"
14.00 €
Weingut Klumpp
— Baden
2021 Bruchsal Rothenberg Spätburgunder trocken
87 WP
very good
35.00 €
Weingut Schloss Westerhaus
— Rheinhessen
2021 Ingelheim Frühburgunder VDP.Ortswein trocken
87 WP
very good
18.00 €
Weingut Karl Haidle
— Württemberg
2022 Stetten Lemberger VDP.Ortswein trocken
87 WP
very good
16.90 €
Weingut Pföstl - Privatweingut "Weinliab"
— Alto Adige
2021 Südtirol / Alto Adige DOC Vernatsch "Valpitan"
12.80 €
Hartmann Donà KG
— Alto Adige
2022 Mitterberg IGT Vernatsch "Mitter"
87 WP
very good
Domaine Paul Autard
— Rhône
2021 Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOC "Juline"
50.00 €
Terre del Marchesato
— Tuscany
2021 Bolgheri Superiore DOC "Marchesale"
93 WP
excellent
60.00 €
Domaine du Grand Tinel
— Rhône
2021 Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOC
91 WP
excellent
30.00 €
Fèlsina
— Tuscany
2021 Chianti Classico DOCG "Berardenga"
17.00 €
Azienda Barbaglia Silvia
— Piedmont
2022 Colline Novaresi DOC "Cascina del Buonumore"
40.00 €
Riecine
— Tuscany
2021 Chianti Classico DOCG
90 WP
excellent
25.00 €
Terre del Marchesato
— Tuscany
2022 Bolgheri DOC Rosso "Emilio Primo"
90 WP
excellent
25.00 €
Poggio Antico
— Tuscany
2022 Rosso di Montalcino DOC
Up to 30.00 €
Weingut August Kesseler
— Rheingau
2022 Assmannshausen Pinot Noir VDP.Ortswein trocken
90 WP
excellent
25.00 €
Poggerino
— Tuscany
2021 Chianti Classico DOCG "Nuovo"
32.00 €
ARPEPE
— Lombardy
2022 Valtellina Superiore DOCG Nebbiolo "Il Pettirosso"
90 WP
excellent
35.00 €
Weingut Fritz Waßmer
— Baden
2021 Bombach Sommerhalde Spätburgunder trocken
58.00 €
Porello
— Piedmont
2021 Roero DOCG "Toretta"
Up to 22.00 €
Azienda Agricola Carlo Casetta
— Piedmont
2021 Roero DOCG "FIL"
Up to 45.00 €
Weingut Fritz Waßmer
— Baden
2021 Syrah trocken
29.90 €
SARL BERRY - ALTHOFF
— Languedoc
2023 "Syrault"
15.50 €
ARPEPE
— Lombardy
2022 Rosso di Valtellina DOC Nebbiolo
89 WP
very good
25.00 €
Tenuta San Guido
— Tuscany
2022 Toscana IGT "Le Difese"
89 WP
very good
30.00 €
Cascina Vèngore
— Piedmont
2021 Terre Alfieri DOC Nebbiolo "MIGNANE®"
89 WP
very good
19.00 €
Angelo Negro
— Piedmont
2021 Roero DOCG "Prachiosso"
89 WP
very good
Cascina Ca'Rossa
— Piedmont
2021 Roero DOCG "Valmaggiore Audinaggio"
20.00 €
Azienda Agricola Gabriele Cordero
— Piedmont
2021 Roero DOCG
Up to 30.00 €
Azienda Agricola Cornarea
— Piedmont
2021 Roero DOCG
30.00 €
Battaglino Angelo - pQqlin.
— Piedmont
2021 Roero DOCG
20.00 €
La Smeralda
— Piedmont
2021 Colline Novaresi DOC Nebbiolo
Bürgerspital zum Hl. Geist - Weingut
— Franconia/Franken
2022 Veitshöchheim Sonnenschein Spätburgunder VDP.Erste Lage trocken
89 WP
very good
23.00 €