We know alcohol doesn’t freeze, and we’ve known for quite some time (the moment we turned 21.) But the more we think about it, the more questions we have. We know hard alcohol can’t freeze, but can wine freeze?
At what temperature does wine freeze?
The question is not “can wine freeze” but “at what temperature does wine freeze?”
When we think about the alcohol content of wine, it usually comes in at about 10-15% alcohol, depending on the variety. For comparison sake, higher proof alcohols like vodka clock in at about 40% alcohol. That’s why imbibers have been known to store these higher proof alcohols in the freezer.
Wine, on the other hand, will freeze at a lower temperature based on the lower alcohol content. A bottle of wine freezes at around 22℉, so sticking your wine in the freezer would indeed freeze the wine.
Does freezing affect the wine experience? Yes, it actually can alter the taste. You may notice something a bit off when drinking wine that has been frozen and thawed, so instead, we recommend using this wine for cooking, wine cubes, or wine cocktails.
4 Ways to Use Frozen Wine
1. Cook with frozen wine.
Can you freeze wine for cooking? The answer is absolutely yes! This is one of our favorite hacks for that leftover wine sitting at the bottom of your bottle. Whether you’re accustomed to cooking with wine or a beginner simply looking to start out, freezing your leftover wine is a great place to start.
We’ve heard it done two ways. You can use an ice cube tray to make wine ice cubes, or pour the wine into individually portioned plastic baggies. Pop your molds in the freezer, then the next time you’re looking to add wine to a homemade sauce, coq au vin, or beef bourguignon, grab a few wine ice cubes or ziploc baggie.
Make sure to freeze your wine while it’s still good to get the best results. How long is an open bottle of wine good for? A general rule of thumb is 3-5 days after opening, but it varies based on variety.
Lower-acid white wines usually last about 3-4 days, while white wine with higher acidity can last about 5 days. We recommend storing your white wines in the fridge once opened to keep them fresh longer.
As for red wines, lower tannin reds like Pinot Noir will last about 2-3 days, while high tannin wines like Cabernet Sauvignon can last up to 5 days. Make sure to keep your reds sealed with a bottle stopper, or look into wine preservation systems like Coravin or Repour to stretch the enjoyment period of your wines!
2. Make wine ice cubes for chilling wine.
If you’re someone who simply insists on adding an ice cube or two to your white for chilling purposes, you might enjoy this hack. Rather than diluting the wine with water cubes, chill white wine ice cubes. When it comes time to enjoy, plop a cube or two in.
An important note: Make sure you’re not mixing wines! Something about a Chardonnay wine cube in a glass of Pinot Grigio makes us shudder.
For the record, we don’t completely approve of the whole ‘ice cubes in wine’ technique. There are many other ways to chill your wine fast without the use of cubes. We also understand that some people like what they like. For those folks, this is a great way to bring the wine sipping experience a little closer to what the winemaker intended.
3. Make a frozen wine cocktail.
If you’ve ever enjoyed a Piña Colada poolside, you know there’s definitely a place for frozen drinks. Did you know you can use frozen wine for cocktails?
Frozen wine can be used to make a variety of delicious wine cocktails - sangria, Frosé, wine slushies. Here are a couple of our favorite frozen wine cocktail recipes.
Watermelon Mojito Frosé
Ingredients
- ½ bottle Rosé
- 1 cup ice
- 2 cups cubed watermelon
- Juice of 2 limes
- 8-10 mint leaves
- 2 tablespoons agave nectar
Freeze your rosé overnight (you’re going to want to freeze it in anything but the bottle.) Once your rosé is mostly frozen, add watermelon, lime juice, mint leaves, agave nectar, and ice to a blender and blend well. Garnish with a slice of watermelon and mint leaves.
Check out the rest of our favorite Frosé recipes!
Frozen Berry Sangria
Ingredients
- 1 pound frozen mixed berries
- 1 peeled orange
- 1 ⅔ cups dry red wine
- ⅓ cup Cointreau
- 2 tablespoons freshly-squeezed lime juice
- 1–2 tablespoons honey
- Ice to thicken
Add berries, orange, wine, Cointreau, and lime juice to a blender and blend well. Add ice to achieve desired consistency. Sweeten as needed.
4. Make wine popsicles.
Save this fun treat for the next time you're somewhere warm or soaking up the summer sun! Making wine popsicles is surprisingly easy - just blend up some frozen fruit, add your juice and wine of choice, pour into popsicle molds, freeze, and enjoy! Here's the full tutorial for a step-by-step how to.
In Vino Finito
Are there other ways you use frozen wine? We love hearing your hacks! Drop them in the comments, and let’s get the conversation going.
