Summer is all about lazy days and relaxing. Here in the desert, we like to throw in a refreshing drink to help us forget about our seemingly endless triple digit days.
Instead of heading to the store and picking up a 4-pack of wine coolers,
Phoenix Drinks Examiner's Mark Nothaft says you should make your own.
They'll have more flavor, and who knows, you may even like them enough to serve them to your friends!
MARK’S HOMEMADE WINE COOLER
Ingredients:
1 cup fresh pineapple, diced
1 orange diced, peel left on
1 lime diced, peel left on
1 cup orange juice
1 cup pineapple juice
1/4 cup lime juice
1/4 cup orange liqueur
1 bottle white wine
1 liter sparking water
Orange slices for garnish
Ice
Preparation:
In a half-gallon pitcher, add diced fruits and juices. Add orange liqueur and muddle. Add wine and let steep and chill for four hours (overnight preferred). Top off pitcher with sparkling water before serving and lightly stir. Serve over ice in white wine glasses and garnish with an orange slice.
BLACK RASPBERRY WINE COOLERIngredients:
3/4 cup raspberry liqueur such as Chambord
1 orange diced, peel left on
1 (6-ounce) package of fresh raspberries (about 3/4 cup)
1 cup orange juice
1 cup cranberry juice
1 bottle rosé wine
1 liter sparking water
Raspberries for garnish
Ice
Preparation:
In a half-gallon pitcher, add orange dices and raspberry liqueur and muddle. Add raspberries and lightly muddle again to extract juice. Add orange and cranberry juices and wine and stir. Let steep and chill for four hours (overnight preferred). Top off pitcher with sparkling water before serving and lightly stir. Strain into display pitcher to remove seeds. Serve over ice in white wine glasses. Garnish with a whole raspberry.
STRAWBERRY-KIWI WINE COOLERIngredients:
1 cup strawberries, cleaned and diced
3 whole kiwis, peeled and sliced into rounds
1 cup strawberry liqueur such as Crème de Fraise or schnapps
1 cup white grape juice
1 bottle rosé wine
1 liter sparking water
Strawberries and kiwi slices for garnish Ice
Preparation:
In a half-gallon pitcher, add strawberries, kiwis and liqueur and lightly muddle. Add grape juice and wine and stir. Let steep and chill for four hours (overnight preferred). Top off pitcher with sparkling water before serving and lightly stir. Serve over ice in white wine glasses. Garnish with a whole strawberry and kiwi slice.
Recipes courtesy: Mark Nothaft,
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