Sitting poolside, next to a fire pit, or soaking up the sun on your back porch all sound like fun. A chilled glass of your favorite Missouri wine will add the perfect touch to a day well spent. It can often be a challenge to get your wine chilled to the ideal temperature and keep it that way. Here are some tips to help you chill with Missouri wine this summer.

Rules of refrigeration:
If there is time to plan ahead, use the 3-2-1 rule. Sparkling wines need roughly 3 hours to be ideally chilled. White, rosé and sweet red wines need 2 hours. Lastly, your semi-dry and dry reds need about 1 hour in the refrigerator to get to the ideal cellar temperature.

Chilled in a flash:
Placing a bottle of wine in the freezer will take about 30-40 minutes to get chilled. Speed things up by wrapping the bottle in a wet towel (or paper towel) before placing it in the freezer. This cuts the chilling time down to 20-25 minutes.

Salt will do the trick:
A bottle of wine iced down in a large tub will chill in about an hour. Accelerate the process by instead submerging the bottle in a tub of ice, salt and water. Adding water ensures the entire surface of the bottle is in contact with the cold temperature. Bonus tip: Spin the bottle by the neck to speed things along even more.

Frozen fruits:
Once your wine is chilled and you want to keep it that way in your glass, try using frozen grapes or other fruits as ice cubes. This will prevent your wine from tasting watered down and you’ll get to enjoy delicious fruit as you sip.

Insulate and enjoy:
Try finding a nice insulated wine tumbler that you can use when the Missouri heat is in full swing. There are many options out there to keep your wine chilled so you can enjoy it all day long.

Use these tips to enjoy your favorite Missouri wines in the squelching Missouri heat.

Your next trip to the St. James area is already planned, so there’s no need to wait! Enjoy all the region has to offer as you wine, dine, shop and stay in this unique Missouri town. Utilize this guide on your next trip to ensure you do not miss a thing. Explore St. James and tag us in your travel stops in Missouri wine country with #MissouriWine.