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
Siobhan says
Girl! I am so happy I stumbled upon this website. I am 100 percent making your cinnabon recipe (no yeast!!!) tonight. I feel like I'm in a rut with meals, and after creeping through your dinners for 2, I have some fresh new ideas. Thanks 3<3
Jon says
I would love to use that first image with the two straws on a poster for a local event. Would you be willing to share the high res image with me? Happy to pay you something like what the stock art sites charge if that you think that is appropriate. Thanks you, great picture!
Troy Turpen says
They're still selling them at the California State Fair (we had a few last Saturday before our gig with the California Repercussions) for $5 apiece. I found the wine they were using...Wild Vines Blackberry Merlot was my wife's favorite...at the local Nugget market, and I'm chilling the Donvier bucket in the freezer right now. A touch of sugar, a splash of fresh-squeezed lime juice and after a few minutes of turning the handle I think we'll be in Central Valley Heaven later this afternoon!
Christina Lane says
How fun! Someday, we're moving back to Cali and the wine slushies just may be the reason ;)