Ice, ice baby!

I learned something new the other day. The practice of popping an icecube or two into a glass of wine is known in France as “piscine,” from the French word for swimming pool. The idea being that your cubes are swimming around in a pool of vino.

And really, what could be better than learning that something you’ve been feeling a wee bit guilty about doing actually has a name. A French name, no less.

I have been drinking my reds, roses and whites over ice for quite some time. More often white than red and certainly not a really fantastic bottle. (Getting a wine really cold emphasizes the tannins and inhibits some qualities you might want to appreciate in a fine vintage.) But for everyday table wine, which is the wine I drink most often, I find a little bit of icetakes the edge off the alcohol and just makes the glass more of a cocktail, less of a commitment.

I got the idea from the late, great wine pioneer Robert Mondavi, who was known to pop a couple cubes in his glass when the weather turned warm.

So I have tradition on my side, plus the knowledge that I’m positively chic.

Cheers, frostily.