While the freezing temperature of alcohol can vary depending on a number of factors, in general, wine will freeze at around -10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit). It all depends on the type of wine. For example, most Chardonnays and Sauvignon Blancs will start to freeze at temperatures between 15°F and 20°F, while most red wines don’t freeze until temperatures reach 15°F or below.
Why Does Wine Freeze?
We know, we know: It seems insane. But wine will freeze. It all comes down to alcohol and water content, which determine a liquid’s freezing point. The higher a liquid’s alcohol content (the concentration of ethanol in that liquid), or ABV, and the lower its water content (the concentration of water), the lower its freezing point.
The freezing point for pure ethyl alcohol is about -117 degrees Celsius (-182.4 degrees Fahrenheit). Some wines have an ABV exceeding 20 percent, meaning they can have a freezing point below -10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit)—low enough to freeze!
Factors that Affect the Freezing Point of Wines
Since different liquids have different molecular structures, their freezing points will vary. As mentioned above, the amount of alcohol in wine also affects its ability to freeze. Because ethanol (the alcohol found in wine) is less dense than water, it causes wines to have higher freezing points than pure water by itself.
What happens when wine freezes?
So, when wine freezes, it doesn’t become totally solid. Instead, it becomes a slushy substance called glace. It’s made up of small pieces of ice that are floating in a liquid solution. When someone asks, “What temperature does wine freeze?”, it’s important to note that it isn’t going to become hard and solid as water does.
If you’ve ever had frozen grapes or grapes on a stick, they have been flash-frozen by being dipped into liquid nitrogen and then placed on sticks. The same thing happens to wine! If you can freeze your wine quickly enough, it won’t actually freeze completely—it will just become very cold and slushy.
When is it a Good Idea to Freeze Wine?
When cooking with wine, it’s a good idea to freeze it first. If you want a more refined experience, there are other benefits to freezing—frozen reds take on fruitier flavors than refrigerated ones do, while frozen whites let subtler notes shine through. It’s never wrong to have a bottle or two waiting in your freezer!
Making Slushies Out of Frozen Wine
Yes, you can make a slushie out of any frozen wine. When I tried it myself, I used un-oaked Chardonnay, as well as Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz. It worked in every case, although Chardonnay turned out to be more successful than either of the reds.
And yes, you can make a slushie with Champagne; it just takes longer for it to freeze into those tiny granules. After about five minutes in a blender, both Chardonnay and Champagne take on a texture similar to an icy popsicle.
A few things to keep in mind:
1) Make sure your wine is as cold as possible before blending—the colder, the better.
2) It’s best if your wine is less than two weeks old. Older wines tend to have more sediment and other particulates that won’t break down during blending.
3) You may want to strain out any larger pieces of ice after blending by pouring through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth—this will also help remove any lingering sediment from your finished product. If you don’t have cheesecloth or mesh around, then just be sure not to drink from below where all of that stuff settled!
4) The colder you keep your wine, and more often you freeze it, the better a slushie consistency you’ll get. If you’re planning on making a lot of these, I’d recommend getting yourself an ice cream maker—it’s really easy to use and makes great slushies. You can even make ice cream with some of your frozen wines! I’ve made strawberry-Champagne sorbet that was out of control good (and yes, Champagne does make for a super-sweet sorbet). If you don’t have an ice cream maker, then just be sure to keep any remaining frozen wine in an airtight container in your freezer—you can always go back later and make another batch!
How to Freeze Wine
As mentioned above, when wine freezes it doesn’t become fully solid; it just chills down to become glace. In fact, they only really become solid when exposed to temperatures below -25 degrees Celsius (-13 degrees Fahrenheit).
Most freezers are kept at -18 degrees Celsius (0 degrees Fahrenheit). This is below the freezing temperature of all wines. If you want some frozen wine, pour it into a plastic container and put it in your freezer overnight. Don’t put the whole bottle in the freezer, because when the wine expands it can explode and douse everything else in your freezer with wine.
Will Freezing Ruin My Wine?
The main reason it’s recommended that wine not be frozen is that once thawed, its taste may be altered. But there are some wines that actually freeze quite well, while others should never be put in a freezer.
With red wines, low-acid varieties tend to fare better than higher-acid ones. Meanwhile, a Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio might not make it through a freeze and become undrinkable.
Freezing wine can actually change its flavor for the better! Sometimes though, it could change for the worst. Cooling wines to freezing temperatures causes something called cryoconcentration. This process makes them more concentrated and enhances their flavors.
When it comes to chilled wine, we’re not talking about ice cubes. For most wines, freezing is a bad thing: It destroys delicate aromas and flavors and concentrates undesirable acidity. In fact, you don’t want your wine to freeze at all; you just want it cold enough that your guests don’t complain about its temperature.
When chilled properly, wine (or any liquid) will eventually achieve equilibrium with its environment. Chilling wine just makes it cooler to drink and allows all of the flavors to be present when you drink it without being distracted by the warmth of room-temperature wine.
Proper Way to Thaw Out Frozen Wine
Sometimes you throw your bottle of wine in the freezer to chill it a little and forget that it was in there. Once a bottle of wine freezes, it’s very difficult to revive. The process of freezing and thawing introduces air bubbles into a once-perfect pour; after freezing, your wine will be watered down with ice crystals.
To prevent that from happening, it’s important to slowly defrost your wine. Don’t microwave or heat up your frozen bottle—that could cause rapid expansion and lead to an explosion. Instead, place your wine in a bowl or sink filled with warm water until it is fully thawed. This process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours depending on how cold your freezer was and how big your bottles are.
Proper Temperature to Chill Wine
Chilling wine properly is an art form. To chill white wine, you should cool it down to about 55 degrees Fahrenheit to bring out its subtle flavors. For red wines, you want to cool them down to about 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you add ice directly into your glass of wine, it’ll bring your wine’s temperature way below the proper range and turn your drink into something far less enjoyable than it should be. It also dilutes your wine which is no fun.
The best way to chill a bottle of wine is to place it in an ice bucket with lots of ice surrounding it. It should take about 20 minutes for white wines and 15 minutes for red wines to reach their ideal temperatures.
Ideal Serving Temperature for Chilled Wines
Chilled white wines should be served between 45 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit, with some styles tolerating cooler temperatures while others are best slightly warmer.
Red wines fare better a bit warmer. A good rule of thumb is to serve reds between 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit; most still wines can tolerate even warmer temps (up to 70 degrees for many red blends).
Chilling wine in your refrigerator
The average kitchen refrigerator’s temperature hovers around 40°F (1.1°C). Since most red wines are served between 45 and 55°F (7-13°C), chilling wine in your refrigerator can take anywhere from four to eight hours.
To chill a single bottle more quickly, wrap it tightly in a towel before placing it in your fridge. This will help insulate and compress its contents, which will decrease how long it takes to cool down. If you’re planning on chilling multiple bottles, consider investing in an appliance like a wine chiller or cooler.
Invest in a Wine Refrigerator
A wine refrigerator isn’t necessary for every wine drinker, but if you like to have several bottles of wine on hand and don’t want to worry about them spoiling, it can come in handy. It allows you to drink your favorite wines while they are young and keep older bottles to serve at a later date.
Many refrigerators today come with a built-in wine compartment that works great. If yours doesn’t have one, there are plenty of affordable portable models available that work just as well (if not better) than those that are permanently attached.
If you’re planning on having a large party or dinner where you will need to store several bottles of wine for an extended period of time, consider purchasing an extra refrigerator to keep your wines chilled until it is time to serve them. This will ensure they stay cold enough without freezing.
