The trendiest way to cool off during London’s never-ending heatwave? Chilled red wine, of course. This summer, the city’s drinking culture has finally caught up with southern Europe, which has long enjoyed a crisp glass of red wine in 35 degrees.
Just like rosé is now enjoyed year-round, a rich but lightly chilled red is officially having its moment in the sun. “A light-bodied red from the fridge is the coolest thing to be drinking – no pun intended,” drinks consultant and writer Libby Brodie says, while TikTok wine creator Candace Strickland, known as This Wine Woman, confirms “it is the summer of chilled reds.”
Younger vino-lovers are embracing the French tradition, with chilled reds taking over wine bars, dinner tables and social occasions. A stint in a fridge or a couple of ice cubes can bring out the wine’s freshness, fruity notes and flavour profile.
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This isn’t just a case of serving the wine, though; some producers make reds deliberately to chill, including Gérard Bertrand. The winemaker’s viral Le Chouchou 2025 is crafted as a modern, light-bodied chillable red wine – with a trendy bottle to match.
Standard Shopping’s contributing drinks writer Becky Paskin reviewed the bottle, which costs less than £13 from the supermarket aisle. If you’re looking for your next bottle of wine to enjoy this summer, make it this one.
Gérard Bertrand Le Chouchou 2025
Best paired with: Leafy salads and citrus fruits
What we love: An intensely fruity, low-tannin red, produced using organically grown grapes
Take note: Chilled reds are approachable, but take some getting used to
“Gérard Bertrand’s adorably named Le Chouchou is the chilled red on everyone’s lips and social feeds this summer, and rightly so. This light blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault (the grapes are grown organically at high altitude) is designed to be served chilled – it even directs us to do so on the label. Get it good and cold for invitingly fruity aromas of wild strawberry, cherries and blackberries, with additional notes of balsamic and mandarin on the palate.”
- Style: Red grape blend
- Produced in: Languedoc-Roussillon, France
- ABV: 11%
- Size: 75cl
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