1 in 3 Wine Drinkers Don't Know They Can Drink Red Wine Chilled

One in three wine drinkers don't know you can drink red chilled, according to research.

Popular opinion suggests red wine should always be served at room temperature but wine experts argue certain varieties such as Pinot Noir are better cold - particularly during the summer months.

Thirty-six percent of those polled will need some convincing however, as they think it's 'completely wrong' to drink refrigerated red wine.

Philip Sykes, principal of The British School of Etiquette, believes the research commissioned by Cono Sur Bicicleta shows it's time to educate the public.

He said, "Many people think that chilling red wine is a faux pas but this is definitely not the case, it just depends on the type of wine. Lighter reds such as a Pinot Noir you would usually chill to between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius. In Mediterranean countries, it has long been customary to drink the lighter reds slightly chilled and we in the UK are moving in the same direction.

"On a balmy summer's day there is nothing better than placing a bottle of Pinot Noir in the fridge and enjoying a nice chilled glass of red wine," Sykes continued. "It's not only perfectly acceptable but will also bring out the flavors beautifully."

The research of 1,000 wine drinkers found half prefer red wine above any other.

But just eight percent will pour a glass or two of red during the summer months – instead turning to white or ros�.

Further to this, almost half have never tried red wine chilled and 29 percent think doing so would be against wine etiquette.

Although 46 percent admit they find the do's and don'ts surrounding the tipple to be confusing.

In fact, just 15 percent consider themselves to be "wine connoisseurs."

So much so, half don't bother with etiquette such as leaving wine to breathe before drinking it.

The study carried out through OnePoll also revealed 57 percent of those who have tried a chilled red found it refreshing.

Master of Wine Alistair Cooper said, "Enjoying certain red wines chilled shouldn't seem like a strange idea.If you think of the fruit characters you often encounter with lighter, fruitier styles of red wines, like Pinot Noir - strawberries, raspberries and cherries. They are all fruits that you'd enjoy on a summer's day straight out of the fridge and the same goes for the wine. Chilling the wine down really helps those fabulous fruit character to sing and shine."

*The label on Cono Sur Bicicleta Pinot Noir changes color when the bottle has been chilled to the ideal temperature.