Back when I first downloaded Instagram, one of the first photos I snapped was of my then-boyfriend drinking a wine slushy at the California state fair. I had never heard of the glorious thing that is called 'wine slushy,' and so I stood in line over and over again to try all of the flavors. It was so quintessential California, and so perfect on that hot day.
Why it’s taken me years to post a recipe for the delicious creation is something I wasn’t prepared to speak of today. Life gets in the way, wine gets drunk straight from the bottle, and wine slushies became a fond memory. Finally, I got to the point where I just needed one in my hand, dammit!
My favorite flavor by far that day was mixed berry with pink Zinfandel.
Don't miss the video above making this recipe!
Now, here’s the thing: I’m a proud red wine drinker. The darker, the better. Much like my taste in men, the thicker, the more complex, the richer, the happier I am. To buy a bottle of pink Zin for this recipe was slightly torturous. I could feel the guy at the wine store resisting to make a better suggestion. I know he looked at me and thought ‘yeah, she drinks that.’ No offense to you pink Zin lovers---I have a friend who drinks it exclusively with gobs of ice cubes, and I love her guts. But, I’m proud of my purple stained teeth.
I persisted for you. Your life needs wine slushies. Your summer needs it, too.
Why a home version of a slushy machine has yet to be invented is eluding me. So, to mimic the wonderful attributes of a slushy machine, we will use the granita scrape-and-freeze method: After pureeing and straining the mixture, pour it into a shallow baking dish (like a 9" pie plate), and freeze for 2 hours. Scrape the mixture every 30 minutes with a fork to break up the ice crystals. Easy peasy!
One bottle of pink Zinfandel plus 1 cup of mixed frozen berries will make 4 wine slushies. Feel free to double or triple the recipe, stand around on the deck, and enjoy the hot summer sun with a wine slushy in your hand. Bonus points for stripey straws!
Were you hoping to see the vintage insta-shot of wine slushy? I found it, circa 2011:
Wine Slushies
A refreshing wine cocktail that's perfect for the summer.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle white Zinfandel (the pink wine)
- 1 cup frozen mixed berries
Instructions
- Puree the wine and berries in a blender. Strain the mixture, and then pour the mixture into a shallow dish, like a 9" pie plate.
- Freeze for 30 minutes. Scrape the mixture with a fork. Repeat 3 times for a perfect slushy consistency.
- Divide between 2-4 glasses, let sit for 5 minutes at room temperature to defrost, and then serve.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 351Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 20mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 3gSugar: 19gProtein: 2g
Lauren at Keep It Sweet says
You are so funny, I kind of feel the same way. Although, we did discover one fabulous rose merlot in Napa (consindering I hate rose and dislike merlot it was shocking) and I'm slightly embarrassed to admit that. This would be such a fun party drink!
Josie says
Dude, you can make wine slushies in an ice cream maker! Just churn it like you would sorbet and drink up! This was a huge revelation for me last summer. Boozy fun!
Christina Lane says
Genius! Thanks, Josie :)
Teresa says
Yes, Genius!!
Lisa @ Garnish with Lemon says
Wine slushies? Where's my straw! :)
taylor @ greens & chocolate says
Is it bad that I want one of these right now and it's not even 8:00 AM? Making these ASAP!
Julie says
Oh, I don't know about wine slushies, just whiskey slushies! I'm in for the summer! :)
Christina Lane says
I think you just created my next drink recipe, Momma Swope! Whiskey slushies comin' at your (oh-so-lovely) face soon! :)
Julie says
I've been telling the girl and her boy to get those made. My recipe is dang good. Don't know what they are dilly dallying around about. It's slushy weather!
Abby @ The Frosted Vegan says
Yessss to this!! I used to work at a winery and we served these in the summer. They were by far the most popular item for a reason! LOVE!
Heather || Heather's Dish says
OK so my parents really only drink zinfandel but I'm a red wine gal too! They recently left a bottle of theirs at our house and I had not a clue what to do with it...TIL NOW :) YUM!
Jenn @ Deliciously Sprinkled says
Wine slushies, I will take two of these please! You make the BEST drinks girl, and these are so perfect for summer! :)
Stephanie @ Long Distance Baking says
"To buy a bottle of pink Zin for this recipe was slightly torturous" - I even feel slightly ashamed just buying whites! I will also judge them forever if someone says they like Moscato or Riesling. I can't wait to try these!
Christina Lane says
And this is why we're friends. Texting you soon, Stephanie :)
Kim (Feed Me, Seymour) says
There is a local red wine here from St. Michael's Winery called Gollywobbler Black. I feel like it would be PERFECT in this. It's a blackberry wine, definitely a dessert style and sometimes needs a good squeeze of lemon to cut through its sweetness. But I adore it and pledge my allegiance to St. Michael's. I'm definitely trying it in this slushy soon!