This homemade berry wine cooler is really easy to make and perfect for summer barbecues. It uses frozen berries which chill the drink and give it great flavor and color.
When I’m going to be sipping on drinks for a few hours, I make something that’s light on the alcohol and on the calories. One of my go-to’s is a white wine spritzer made with dry white wine, soda water and big squeezes of lemon and lime.
For our summer barbecue a couple of weeks ago I decided to make spritzers a pitcher at a time. But I didn’t want to water them down with ice cubes. Instead I decided to dump in a bag of frozen mixed berries.
It was perfect! The frozen berries defrosted a little on contact with the liquid and gave it a sparkly pink color. And a nice bit of berry flavor too. It was like the Wild Berry Wine Coolers I remember my aunts drinking when I was young. But not as sweet.
It wasn’t sweet because I’d used a dry white wine. But if you like sweeter drinks, you could go with Moscato or Riesling. That makes it taste even more like that 1980’s classic purple drink.
My report from after the BBQ: I sipped happily on my wine cooler for several hours and was only a tad tipsy at bedtime. More importantly, I didn’t have a headache the next morning either.
This white wine berry wine cooler is really easy to make and perfect for summer barbecues. It uses frozen berries which help cool the drink and flavor. Choose a wine that you like to drink on its own. If you like dry white wines, go with a dry white here. If you like sweet wines, then use a sweet one. If you like your drinks even sweeter than that, you can use lemon-lime soda instead of seltzer water.
[…] To go with our ribs and chicken I made a simple cold veggie salad and one of our guests brought macaroni salad. There was so little to do once the guests arrived that I spent much of the afternoon chatting while sitting in a lawn chair sipping on this Homemade Berry Wine Cooler. […]
Emma, Yes other fruits definitely. You’ll still want them to be frozen though. The best fruits to use are those that are really juicy on the outside because their flavor will go out into the beverage more. So grapes wouldn’t be as good as cherries. A good way to test without wasting wine is to test it with plain water and see if the flavor comes out well.
If I’m drinking wine, it’s definitely gonna be a white one. I’m a big fan of spritzers like this as well. YUM! :) I love the frozen berry idea because watered down or hot (or warm) white wine are both no good. Great idea! :) I’m re-inspired to find ways to riff on this classic again! Thanks!
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[…] it gets to be summer time (or if you live in a warm weather location), you can make this refreshing homemade berry wine cooler, […]
[…] Oh, and if you’re a summer cocktail lover like I am, be sure to also check out my recipe for Summer Berry Wine Coolers. […]
[…] Oh, and for another great wine cocktail, be sure to also check out my recipe for Berry Wine Cooler recipe. […]
[…] To go with our ribs and chicken I made a simple cold veggie salad and one of our guests brought macaroni salad. There was so little to do once the guests arrived that I spent much of the afternoon chatting while sitting in a lawn chair sipping on this Homemade Berry Wine Cooler. […]
Sweet tips for homemade berry wine cooler! Can i use any other fruit like cherry, grapes instead of berry?
Emma, Yes other fruits definitely. You’ll still want them to be frozen though. The best fruits to use are those that are really juicy on the outside because their flavor will go out into the beverage more. So grapes wouldn’t be as good as cherries. A good way to test without wasting wine is to test it with plain water and see if the flavor comes out well.
You make me want to spend a afternoon with this cooler! Yum!
I think a pitcher of this would really help me to survive the last couple of days of school
★★★★★
Now that bbq season is in full swing this refreshing berry cooler is the best beverage to accompany the goodies from the bbq!
Using frozen fruit instead of ice cubes is such a smart idea!
If I’m drinking wine, it’s definitely gonna be a white one. I’m a big fan of spritzers like this as well. YUM! :) I love the frozen berry idea because watered down or hot (or warm) white wine are both no good. Great idea! :) I’m re-inspired to find ways to riff on this classic again! Thanks!
★★★★★
Such a nice light summer drink.
★★★★★
The only way I actually like wine is when it’s loaded with fruit, so this drink has me allll ova it! Gorgeous photos too! Pinned :)