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Does Wine Freeze? Should You Put Wine in a Freezer?
- Last Updated - 4/2/23
Quick Answer: This is a question that many people have, and the answer is yes – wine does freeze. And yes I still put my wine bottle in the freezer before serving, sometimes... But I don't store wine in the freezer.
There are some things you need to know about freezing wine before you decide whether or not to do it.
In this article, we will discuss the best ways to chill wine so that it stays in good condition. We will also explore the reasons why people might not want to freeze wine in the first place!
Table of Contents
At What Temperature Does Wine Freeze?
Wine freezes at a lower temperature than water because there is alcohol in it. The freezing point of wine is between 15°F and 25°F (-9.4°C to -3.8°C). The higher the alcohol content the lower the freezing point temperature. And vice versa.
So for example, Port wines are typically comprised of approximately 20% ABV, so their freezing temperature will be ~15°F. On the other hand, a Prosecco with a 11% ABV will have a freezing temperature of ~24°F.
This means that if you are storing your wine in a standard kitchen freezer, it is likely that the wine will eventually freeze.
How Long Does It Take Wine to Freeze?
A standard kitchen freezer’s temperature is normally 0° F. From my experience, it takes about 4-5 hours for a bottle of wine to freeze solid in a standard kitchen freezer. But this can vary depending on the type of wine, the alcohol content, and the size of the bottle.
For example, it will take longer for a large bottle of red wine with a high alcohol content to freeze than it will for a small bottle of white wine with a lower alcohol content.
How Do You Unthaw a Frozen Bottle of Wine?
The best way to thaw a frozen bottle of wine is to slowly move it from the freezer into the fridge. This will help to prevent the wine from being shocked by a sudden change in temperature. Or if you want to unthaw it faster, it can be at room temperature. Do NOT use a microwave to unthaw.
It can take up to 24 hours or more for a frozen bottle of wine to thaw completely in the fridge. So you will need to plan ahead if you want to serve wine that has been frozen.
Can put Wine in a Freezer?
I recommend chilling the wine, but not storing it in a freezer.
As you know wine is best stored in a cool and dark place. So most of the time putting wine in the freezer is not going to hurt the quality of the wine. But the main thing that you need to be aware of when storing wine in the freezer is that the wine can expand and the bottle may break. So therefore, I wouldn’t store wine in a freezer.
But YES, I would chill the wine before serving it in the freezer. Obviously, it’s a little quicker than placing it in the fridge to chill. But try not to forget about it because I’ve done that before.
Is it Bad for Wine to Freeze?
No, it is not bad for wine to freeze. Although some people argue that they can taste a difference, usually your wine will be just fine. Any change in flavor will be very subtle.
But again there is that possibility that the wine bottle can be damaged. The most frequent way this happens is when the water in wine freezes and begins to push the cork out of the bottle. And another way is that the frozen wine expands and breaks the wine bottle itself.
Frozen Wine Uses
- Make your own wine popsicles!
- Frozen wine can be used in place of ice cubes to keep your drink cold without watering it down. Just use an ice cube tray as shown above.
- Wine slushies are a delicious and easy way to enjoy & drink frozen wine.
- Frozen wines can also be used in cooking. Red wine is especially good for braising meats.
Best Way to Chill Wine
Store you wine in a wine fridge.
If you want to chill your wine quickly, either fill an ice bucket with water or stick the bottle in the fridge for a short period of time.
Summary
Can You Freeze Wine? Yes. Should You Put Wine in a Freezer? Just for a short amount of time, but that’s up to you!
Just try not to freeze your wines.
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