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
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
Wine freakin slushies? Aww man I think I might have way too many of these this summer!
JAcquee @ I Sugar Coat It! says
This sounds like the start of something quite dangerous...but I like a little danger.
Stephie @ EYHO says
I'll take 13, thankyouverymuch!
Jennifer says
This looks delicious and there is an at home slush maker available that's relatively inexpensive! Wine slushies can be made within 7 minutes with this little guy:
http://www.zokuhome.com/products/slush-shake-maker
Alanna says
Need these in my face! Those photos are straight out of a magazine.
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel says
Come to CA and let's knock a few of these bad boys back. I want a wine slushy in my life.
M G says
I have been doing this by dumping the mixture into a gallon sized ziploc, putting it in the freezer and kneading it every so often. Works great and zero mess!
Marly says
This may be the best drink of the 2014 summer! I'll plan to do lots of taste testing to make sure! ;)
Carolyn says
Oh wise one, will pink champagne work or do the bubbles ruin the recipe?
Sincerely, your humble/aspiring wine slushy maker.
Christina Lane says
Sorry for the delay! I have been mulling this one over. You know I'm a bubbles girl at heart! I think the flavors of the champagne will come through but the bubbles will be lost. I have a champagne jello recipe on this site that the bubbles escaped from the minute it hit the heat. I'm thinking cold is the same. If you try it, let me know :)
Rosanna says
What a beautiful photo! If it tastes as refreshing as it looks, I'm in!