Does Wine Freeze?

The short answer is yes.

It's a hot day and nothing sounds better than a crisp glass of wine, but everything you have at home is room temperature. Popping a bottle of wine in the freezer to cool it off seems like the smartest option, but does wine freeze?

It's a logical question to ask considering other types of alcohol — like vodka — can stay in the freezer without ever going solid, but fermented grape juice, as opposed to grains, and a cork brings different variables to the freezer.

To uncork any wine fallacies, we consulted Thomas Price, Master Sommelier at Auburn University's Culinary Residence 1856, about whether it is OK to freeze wine, and what to know before putting a bottle in the freezer.

Meet The Expert

Thomas Price, Master Sommelier at Auburn University's Culinary Residence 1856, Auburn, Alabama

Does Wine Actually Freeze?

Price explains that because wine typically has a lower alcohol content than other alcohol varietals, it can freeze to a solid.

"It takes about three to four hours to freeze solid," Price says, adding that freezing wine is a great way to get it "super cold" for a hot day. "Wine has 10 to 15 percent alcohol, whereas hard liquor generally has 35 to 50 percent alcohol — that’s all there is to it!"

Will The Wine Bottle Burst?

One important concern when it comes to freezing any type of alcohol is: Will the bottle burst open if I leave it in there too long? Price says it's not likely in the case of wine. "The bottle rarely breaks if you forget and leave it overnight," he says.

Will Freezing Wine Ruin The Flavor?

The short answer on being able to freeze wine is yes, but will freezing it change the flavor profile? Or worse — ruin the entire bottle? "Speaking from experience, when you thaw it out, it tastes pretty close to when it went in," Price says. "You lose a bit of texture, but whites in particular remain delicious after freezing."

This makes sense, because oxidation, or exposure to air, is to blame when a wine's flavor profile is compromised. As long as the bottle is unopened and the cork remains in tact, your bottle of wine should be just fine in the freezer and taste just as good had it not been frozen.

When Should You Freeze Wine?

While freezing leftover wine to a solid should be reserved for cooking, Price says there is another scenario when freezing wine is appropriate. "Not frozen solid, but with inexpensive rose or light white (wines) when it's super hot out, I often get them slushy for frosé at home," he says.

Related: How Many Glasses Of Wine Are In A Bottle?

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