Mixing It Up
WINE COCKTAILS ARE IN SEASON Jessica Roberts
W
HEN YOU THINK ABOUT A PERFECT SUMmer day, does that daydream include a cold beverage? It should. For some an idyllic day would be even better with an ice-cold mug of your favorite beer, while for others it’s a chilled glass of wine. Lately, more fun summer days are being improved with the addition of premade and canned cocktails. High Noon is a brand that’s leading the market now with their flavored vodka seltzers. Many other companies are following suit, including some big names such as Jack Daniel’s, Absolut, Bacardí, Crown Royal and Jose Cuervo. But spirits companies aren’t the only ones making headway in this market — there’s demand for wine-based cocktails, too. Why the hype — and surprising growth — surrounding this emerging category of drinks? Many reasons, but the main one is convenience. Your image of a relaxing weekend likely doesn’t include buying a long list of special ingredients to whip up one or more summer drink recipes. You might prefer to let a bartender do the work and order your summer drink when you’re out. But with premixed cocktails, you just open a bottle or can, pour it into a glass and enjoy! Easy as a summer’s day. While there are many brands that have jumped into the wine cocktail ring, here are a few worth checking out — or should I say sampling? Barefoot has released a line of wine-based seltzers that come in four flavors: pineapple passion fruit, cherry cranberry, strawberry guava and peach nectarine. Yum. These light drinks pair well with a poolside day. You can buy one can, a four-pack or a variety pack. With the variety pack ($19.99), you can try three of each flavor as you search for your favorite and share them with friends. If cans aren’t your style, try options in bottles. Flybird and Rancho La Gloria make lines of margarita-style wine cocktails. For $11.99, Flybird comes in an attractive bottle as colorful as its four flavors — Baja lime, strawberry, passion fruit and watermelon. These drinks are 100% agave, use all-natural ingredients and have bold fruit profiles. They’re a little heftier in alcohol, so please drink responsibly. Rancho La Gloria wine seltzers are also made with 100% agave and real lime juice and are gluten-free. Grab mango, blueberry or watermelon for $10.99.
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County Lines | June 2022 | CountyLinesMagazine.com
