Chill Out With Wine Slushies

Wine snobs should press the Back button on their browsers before continuing, as today we are discussing a trend that won’t cater to a critical palate—wine slushies. Perfect on a summer day (and worth the brain-freeze), a colorful slushy will easily enthrall your guests, especially with the added flair of fruit garnishes and fancy straws.

Making one can be as easy as tossing a cheap bottle of wine in the blender with the ice from your freezer, but after hearing about Adirondack Winery in Lake George’s experimentation with mixes like ginger hibiscus, strawberry basil lemonade, and sangria, the opportunity to go all out is just too enticing.

“What I would tell people is not to be intimidated,” says Adirondack’s marketing specialist Rob Rezin. “It can be as simple as adding a simple syrup to your favorite wine in a blender, then freezing it.”

One mix used by Adirondack is Lush, an all-natural dry mix that you can buy online. It’s organic, with no corn syrup, so you don’t feel like you’re drinking a bucket of sugar.

Some alternative recipes really go the extra mile, making use of frozen fruits or ice cream, but just as often, simplicity works best. One of the most popular slushies at Baldwin Vineyards in Pine Bush is just ice blended with their Apple dessert wine, making for a pleasantly pink drink similar to frosé, the slushy cousin being talked up as this season’s go-to beverage.

“It’s the summer time,” says Baldwin Assistant Manager Anthony Landolina. “When customers walk into the winery from the heat and see slushies, a kids’ drink, they get excited.” 

If you’re itching to impress your guests with your own frozen treat, check out Adirondack’s Mellow Wine-arita recipe here. For more from the Hudson Valley’s wine scene, stop by our Wine Guide.