Cool wine is the perfect complement to a sweltering summer’s day. The only problem, of course, is keeping your wine bottle cold! Although it’s difficult, there are many strategies you could use to keep your cool when hosting a picnic.
1. Interestingly, most white wines actually taste better when they are slightly warm. This makes white wines a superb choice if you’re going to be out in a humid environment. Of course, nobody wants a cup of boiling wine, but you shouldn’t worry about pouring your friends slightly warm white wine.
2. Don’t know how much wine to bring to your party? As a general rule of thumb, picnic experts recommend bringing one full bottle of wine per two party guests.
3. If you’re planning on bringing a red wine to your picnic, then consider pouring your wine into a re-sealable bottle at home. Wine enthusiasts claim this simple hack helps enhance your wine’s flavor by introducing aeration. As a bonus, this bottle will feel a whole lot lighter in your picnic gear.
4. One sneaky way to keep your picnic "cool" is to plan on making a wine that requires ice cubes. Simply bring your ice in a thermos and prepare your wine on the spot. A great way to employ this tip is to use a simple sangria recipe.
5. There’s no need to show off your corkscrew skills on a picnic outing. Instead, opt for bottles with convenient screw tops. Not only will you find these wine bottles easier to open, you could also conveniently close them if you have a bit of wine leftover.
6. Any beer lovers out there probably have a few “koozies” lying around the house. This is good news for keeping your wine bottle chilled outdoors. Simply take two of these holders and place them over the top and bottom of your chilled bottle. This trick will usually keep your wine cool for at least two hours.
7. Anyone using a wine cooler should always add both cool water and ice. This combination will provide a more thorough cooling than using ice on its own.
8. Somewhat related to the last tip, you should consider throwing a cup or two of salt into your wine cooler. You could also make ice cubes with a pinch of sea salt before your picnic. Salt lowers the freezing point of your water, which means your wine will stay cooler for longer.
9. Hosting an outdoor event at or near your home? Simply use the freezer to give your wine a quick chill before heading outside. Just don’t leave your wine in the freezer for longer than a half-hour!
10. For those who are a bit lazy, consider bringing frozen reusable ice cubes to your party. Since these colorful cubes are made out of plastic, there’s no chance they’ll dilute the flavor of your wine. Before you purchase these cubes, check to ensure they are BPA-free.
Don't let the summer heat drag you down! By using a few of these tips, you could easily host a picture-perfect picnic complete with a refreshingly cool bottle of wine.
