Just Add Ice

Is it ok to add ice to wine? Absolutely! In Provence France, a rose wine topped over lots of ice cubes is called Piscine. You tend to see it more for white and rose wines, but with temperatures in the range of 35-degrees in Halifax, I added ice to my red wine last Saturday night. This is not the “room temperature” red wine or any wine should be served at. Keep in mind, ice will dilute the wine and change the composition and taste, especially in red wines. I always encourage people to put their wine in the fridge and take it out a while before serving, as opposed to adding ice.

From Wine Enthusiast:

Certain wines can handle ice more than others. 

“For a wine to taste good when served so cold, it needs a different flavor profile,” says Elizabeth Gabay, Master of Wine and author of Rosé: Understanding the Pink Wine Revolution. These include easy-drinking Pinot Grigios or wines with high sugar content and intense flavors, like a late-harvest Riesling or a dry rosé. 

My advice has always been, ‘drink the wine at the temperature you like’. You are, after all, the one paying for it.

A little update. I rang the bell Monday past. Ringing the bell in the Cancer clinic doesn’t mean you are Cancer free. It means you have completed your last IV chemo treatment.

I have to say I’m so happy those are over with. I would take radiation and chemo pills any day over IV chemo. The side effects are many. One of the hardest is not being able to eat or drink anything cold. No cold beverages, they feel like glass shards in your throat. Not fun during a heat wave. But I’m back on cooler beverages. I get a few weeks off treatments, which after 15 weeks, I’m really looking forward to. And I’m going to head home for a visit to Newfoundland.

Ok, this made me laugh because it is so me.

I’m sure with the heat waves happening all over, many people are grilling, because it’s so much easier than turning the oven on. Here’s an easy potato recipe that I’ve made several times.

Potatoes, butter, onions, olive oil and your favorite seasonings. I spray aluminum foil with Pam oil spray. Fold them up and put them on the grill.

I added some shredded cheese at the end, and they were a perfect compliment to BBQ burgers I made this past week.

My quest for a go-to red wine under $15 continues. I don’t drink wine the week of my IV chemo treatments, so I really don’t have a new wine to talk about.

I am getting together with friends this evening, and this is the wine I’m bringing to try. It’s an Argentinian red Malbec and it’s on sale for $15.51, so still a long way from my beloved Canyon Road which was regular priced at $12.75.

Stay tuned, I’ll tell you about it next week. Have a great week, stay cool and add ice when needed.