With summer here, is it acceptable to put ice in wine to cool it down?

—A.T., Mount Martha, VIC

In a word, yes, if it suits you. I have a few tips for serving wine in hot weather and that’s one of them.

Ice blocks are pooh-poohed by many purists, but I have no problem throwing two or three cubes into a glass of wine that needs cooling.

Ice buckets are indispensable for sparkling and white wines. Otherwise, there are those clever chilling sleeves (such as Vacu-Vin Rapid Ice). I keep a couple in the freezer permanently for emergencies.

Even reds – well, especially reds, because they’re usually not served chilled – can benefit from a little ice.

“I’d rather drink nothing than warm bubbly on a hot day.”

In warmer weather, few people feel like a full-bodied red, but lighter-bodied reds with less tannin can be enjoyed. They also taste good chilled.

It’s good to stick pinot noir, gamay, beaujolais and other light reds in the fridge for half an hour or so before serving or you can dunk them in an ice-bucket with an ice and water mixture. Be careful, though: it’s easy to over-chill. An ice and water slurry is a super-efficient refrigerant; 15 minutes is usually enough.

One of my pet hates is sparkling wine or champagne served too warm or not cold enough to stay cool as you drink it. I’d rather drink nothing than warm bubbly on a hot day.

When drinking sparkling wine in the heat, it’s a good idea to use a smaller glass and/or smaller pours. More frequent topping up means more work for the host, but it also ensures guests empty their glasses before the wine gets warm.

I’d also recommend that if you’re serving something special, like champagne, keep it out of the sun: direct sunlight can cause light-strike, which is a disagreeable, sulphide-like taint.

Conversely, if your bottle has been in the fridge for days and comes out freezing cold, never fear: the wine will warm up quickly in the glass.

Final Christmas tip? When opening the bubbly, point the bottle away from people and resist the urge to let the cork fly out. It’s been known to cause serious injury. Merry Christmas!

Got a drinks question for Huon Hooke? thefullbottle@goodweekend.com.au