Forget the Rules: 2 Crushable Austrian Reds for Warm Days and Cool Nights

You’ve heard it before, even from us. From our ode to cookout wines and breaking wine’s so-called seasonal rules, the message remains the same: yes, you can chill red wine. Forget what the books told you. Red wine isn’t just for rainy nights, stews, or fireplace philosophizing. No, it’s not uncultured. No, it won’t ruin the wine. In fact, it might just save your palate from the steamy chaos of sipping a room-temp red under the blazing sun. Don’t give up on red wine just because the temperature broke 80°. Just give it a fresh summer uniform! The volleyball’s mid-air, your playlist’s hitting just right, and then you just give that bottle a short stint on ice and suddenly it’s transformed. Cool, vibrant, and utterly refreshing. 

We’re deep in the era of chillable reds. Wines that shapeshift with the season, embrace capricious sun-soaked days, and know how to withdraw from rigid tradition without losing soul. These wines are picnic-approved, backyard-certified, and built for a summer idyll. Think lower tannins, brighter fruit, higher energy, and acidity that reverberates through every sip like a well-timed drop in your favorite track.

What makes a chilled red the right move when the heat kicks in:

❤️ Light to Medium Body
These aren’t heavy hitters. They flirt. They dance. They don’t sit on your tongue like a weighted blanket.

❤️ Low to Moderate Tannins
Chilled reds with soft tannins deliver structure without the bitter bite.

❤️ Higher Acidity
The zippy backbone brings brightness to food pairings and makes these wines feel more like a splash of lemonade than a brooding Bordeaux.

❤️ Fruit-Forward Personality
Think cherry bomb, cranberry snap, strawberry whisper. Cold temps highlight freshness.

❤️ Minimal Oak
Stainless steel or more neutral oak preserve transparency of flavor, letting terroir and fruit shine.

❤️ Versatility
Beach hang? Grilled halloumi? Charcuterie at golden hour? These wines shapeshift between moods with ease.

❤️ Soft Alcohol Levels
Most clock in under 13%. That could mean more sips, fewer regrets. Wink wink.

❤️ Earthy, Herbal Complexity
A touch of savory adds balance and character, like a spice-dusted memory from an old-world kitchen.

❤️ Easier on the Pocket
Let’s be honest. Summer is a season of sandy snacks and lawn chairs. Between spritzers and beers alone, more often than not your wine better show up with personality and a decent price point to compete with them and the others. That baller grower Champagne? Love her, always will. But it’s not going to be what’s top of mind for everyone. (Don’t get me wrong. A stunning Champagne is perfect anytime, anywhere, but you see the point.)

Enter Austrian reds. Austria may have built its reputation on pristine whites, but its red wines are quietly rewriting the summer script. Rooted in ancestral varieties and shaped by a patchwork of soils and shifting climates, these lighter styles offer juicy texture, vibrant acidity, and undeniable summer appeal. They are not trying to be Sauvignon Blanc or Rosé, and they do not have to be. With nearly a third of Austria’s vineyards planted to red grapes, this is not a trend. It is a shift, especially in the category of chillable reds.

These wines invite softness without losing their edge. Here are two bottles we won’t gatekeep and prove why chillable reds deserve a spot in your summer orbit:

Familie Reinisch 2022 Tattendorf Pinot Noir

Finding a Pinot Noir that performs at a more accessible price point is becoming harder to come by, but this is one for you. While Pinot Noir isn’t native to Austria, its roots in the region trace back to medieval times, giving it a surprising sense of history and place. The Reinisch brothers run the family’s estate like storytellers working in liquid prose. Expect red berries, dried florals, and savory herb qualities with this Pinot. There’s a bit of minerality that keeps things grounded, and a silky structure with just enough grip to keep you intrigued. Drink it slightly chilled while watching clouds roll in after a sweaty city day.

Winzer Krems 2022 Kellermeister Privat* Blauer Zweiglet Qualitätswein

If Pinot Noir is the thoughtful introvert, Zweigelt is the charismatic extrovert with a killer playlist and a knack for hosting. Born from a cross between Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent (two titans of Austrian wine lore), Zweigelt takes the spotlight as one of Austria’s standouts. It’s simpler to cultivate and even simpler to enjoy. Wine has been thriving around Krems for over 2,000 years, making it one of Austria’s most storied wine regions. This wine gleams with a ruby core and flashes of violet. Cherry fruit jumps out like a catchy hook, supported by a structure that doesn’t overpower. Some might overlook its subtle charm. I call it genre-fluid. Its softness is its superpower. Made for impromptu picnics, late-night takeout, or crashing a rooftop party with nothing but good vibes. Don’t overthink it!

There’s a delicious kind of chaos in tossing red wine tradition out the window and embracing something unexpected. These bottles aren’t asking for a decanter or a dissertation. They’re asking you to lean into the moment. These chillable Austrian reds are made to sit alongside your ice water, assorted snacks, and the playlist setting the beat for your summer groove.

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Disclosure: Sample bottles of wines were received. Samples submitted to Shall We Wine are for review and thoroughly assessed before posting.