The Secret to Chilling Wine Fast on Hot Days, According to a Winery Chef

An ice-cold glass of crisp wine can make even the hottest days more bearable. The thing is, ice melts. When it does, you're left with a glass that's half wine and half water, and nobody wants that. While looking for a better way to chill wine this summer, we enlisted the help of La Crema Winery head chef Tracey Shepos, who shared a genius solution to keeping wine cool and flavorful at the same time. I'll be taking her advice all summer long, and here's why you should, too.

La Crema Winery has been making Burgundian-style chardonnay and pinot noir in Sonoma county, California for over 40 years. The brand focuses on growing grapes in small lots that foster bold, distinct, and balanced flavors in every bottle. With flavors so deliberate, it would be a shame to waste a drop. That's why Chef Tracey recommends freezing your leftover wine into ice cubes. When you're ready to pour a glass (I suggest the 2019 La Crema Monterey Rosé), instead of adding regular ice cubes, pop in a few cubes of pre-frozen wine instead.

"Traditional water ice cubes water down the wine, diluting the flavor. I want my wine to taste full, vibrant, and flavorful until the last sip," Shepos tells Food & Wine. Who could argue with that? Freezing leftover wine into ice cubes is the perfect way to preserve those last few sips of a bottle while ensuring each future glass remains boldly flavored. While you're at it, frozen wine cubes can be used in a variety of culinary projects, Shepos adds. Looking to quickly punch up a sad pan sauce? Add a cube or two of La Crema Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. It's a simple way to keep little blocks of flavor on hand whenever you need them.

Here's the most important detail: Remember to label your ice trays so you know exactly what you're adding to your glass each time. Nobody wants to mix chardonnay and sauvignon blanc, so having designated ice trays for each varietal is a guaranteed way to make sure you know what you're drinking.

If you love ice cold wine, consider trying this expert-approved hack to ensure you'll have chilled, full-flavored wine to get you through the hottest days of summer. To help you get started, we've rounded up five of the best ice trays on Amazon for freezing wine—all under $10—below.

These BPA-free silicone ice trays have a removable lid that makes storing and freezing liquids completely mess-free. The clear lids are also easy to label, so you can be sure you know what you're adding to your wine. For even more clarity, designate each color tray for a certain varietal. That way, when you grab the pink ice tray, you know you're grabbing rosé.

To buy: Easy Release Silicone Ice Cube Tray, $8 (originally $9) at amazon.com

The smaller cube size in this two-pack are ideal if you'd like to add a little chill to your wine without overloading the glass with too much ice. Plus, the food-grade silicone makes for easy release.

To buy: Silicone Ice Cube Tray with Lids, $4 at amazon.com

A plastic base makes these ice trays durable, strong, and easy to stack, so if you have lots of leftover wine on hand, consider grabbing a four-pack for just $10. Thanks to the white lining, labeling with a permanent marker is super easy, too.

To buy: Stackable Silicone Ice Cube Tray with Lid, $10 at amazon.com

A giant ice cube lasts longer than a standard one does, so these large cubes will keep your wine nice and cool for hours. Not to mention, when your ice cube is made with wine, it'll act as a built-in refill as it melts.

To buy: Giant Silicone Ice Cube Tray, $8 at amazon.com

If you prefer crushed ice, these mini ice cube trays come pretty close to achieving the same texture and size. The two bendable silicone trays will even produce ice small enough to fit inside a water bottle or reusable wine bottle for your next boozy adventure.

To buy: Mini Ice Cube Tray, $10 at amazon.com