(Image credit: Jerrelle Guy) Have you found yourself staring blankly into the fridge searching for the perfect beverage? Is it time for a drink, but not time for wine? Does beer sound like a terrible idea? Enter: the wine cooler. A classic combination of wine and bubbles, the wine cooler exists for moments of summer when pure, unbridled refreshment and the glory of wine collide — so basically, most moments. (Image credit: Jerrelle Guy) Wine coolers are more than invigorating pick-me-ups from yesteryear — they’re masterful costumes for inexpensive wines. By adding a simple splash of soda and a drop of fruity liqueur, these classics are perfect for dressing up an everyday wine, or refreshing a bottle that isn’t as delicious as you’d hoped. There’s a simple formula to make any bottle (or box) a star liquid centerpiece. Chances are, you already have the ingredients. More Wine Cooler Intel 3 Reasons Wine Coolers Are Cool Again Europeans Are So Much Better at Wine Coolers (and Here's Why)

I Tried Every Bartles & Jaymes Wine Cooler and Ranked Them Whether that bottle was a house gift, grocery store steal, or simply an accidental pick at the liquor store, any inexpensive wine will do for a cooler. From Portuguese Vinho Verde to Minnesota Riesling, the formula always delivers. Wines you love on their own (let’s be honest — we all have a cheap favorite) also make great spritzers, letting you jazz up a regular refresher like a quick Sephora makeover.beer and wine based cocktails Generally, I recommend sticking to white and rosé wines, since they do best with a chill and their flavors are often delicate and easy to uplift with a dash of this or a splash of that. glass of wine sound(White Zinfandel that sells for $7.99 in huge jugs, or Critter Wines definitely fit the bill.)guide to wine poster

Inexpensive bubbles also pack a one-two punch of alcohol and inherent spritz when it comes to wine coolers. Is that $9.99 Prosecco too sweet? Does the Cava need a flavor boost? Line them up for wine spritzer glory. This is the secret weapon to elevating cheap wine to a truly delicious and aromatic wine cooler. Fruit-flavored or infused liqueurs offer fantastic aromatics, plus a dash of sugar that can make overly tart or astringent wines easier to swallow. best selling wine in canadaThese low-proof liqueurs also showcase the best of a wine’s flavors, elevating golden apple tones of Chardonnay or the tropical flavors of inexpensive Sauvignon Blanc.chocolate shop wine buy online While traditional wine spritzers are made with club soda, coolers can be made with any carbonated beverage, including sweet sodas or tonic.best wine cooler uk

The ideal combination depends on personal taste and the wine available. For a soft, delicate spritzer, you can’t go wrong with original seltzer. For extra oomph, without added sugar or calories, flavored sparkling waters add fantastic aromatics to coolers. Flavors like orange, pomegranate, and raspberry-lime are fantastic counterparts in white wine-based spritzers. For even more flavor, use lemon-lime soda like 7UP or Fresca. Unlike the delicate flavors of a seltzer spritzer, those made with traditional sodas are more conventional store-bought wine coolers — bursting with fruity flavor and impossible to resist poolside (or couch-side). It’s all about ratios when it comes to making the perfect cooler. A combination of 4 ounces wine, 4 ounces soda, and 2 ounces of liqueur creates a wonderfully refreshing drink that balances the wine with its added ingredients. Use less wine and you run the risk of not tasting it at all, but add more and its flavors and alcohol will dominate.

This formula is great because it balances the cooler components and is the perfect size for a pint glass filled halfway with ice. To make the perfect cooler anytime, simply combine the ingredients over ice, and stir to mix the flavors evenly. For a group, batch the wine and liqueur ahead of time and store it in the fridge, adding bubbles and ice just before serving. How to Turn a $5 Bottle of Wine into a Wine Cooler For the Watermelon White Zinfandel Cooler 4 ounces chilled White Zinfandel 2 ounces Watermelon Pucker 4 ounces lemon-lime soda Watermelon cubes, for garnish For the Orange Riesling Cooler 4 ounces chilled Riesling (off-dry is OK!) 4 ounces club soda Orange slices, for garnish Combine all the ingredients: In a pint glass with ice, combine ingredients and stir gently. Let friends in your social network know what you are reading aboutTwitterGoogle+LinkedInPinterestPosted!A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

Log InSubscribed, but don't have a login?Register your digital access.This story was originally published July 2, 2013.The wine cooler has a bit of an identity problem. Is it a wine spritzer? And what about that wild child moment in the '80s when it was the hottest thing on the party scene?Luckily, this cocktail conundrum is easily solved. As Gertrude Stein might put it, wine cooler is wine spritzer is wine cocktail is sangria. And the versions being whipped up today have nothing in common with the cheap, mass-produced products of 30 years ago (which thankfully went the way of shoulder pads)."Mixology has been raised to this new chef-like heights and wine, in a way, is the bartender's hottest ingredient right now," says Mike Dawson, senior editor at Wine Enthusiast. "Cutting-edge bartenders are taking these wine-based drinks to new heights, and creating these New Age coolers, along with countless variations of the sangria and classic wine cocktails like the New York Sour."Summer is the perfect time for wine coolers, since it's the one time of year even the most dedicated vinophile toys with dropping a fistful of ice in a glass.

Switching to a cooler makes wine "a little bit easier to drink," says Chad Furuta of Del Frisco's Grille in New York. At the Grille, bartenders are making spritzers with a house white wine, mixed with ginger ale or a lemon-lime soda and served with a lemon twist or wedge. "Whether you want to call it wine cooler or spritzer, it really is a great summer drink," he says.AZCENTRALThings To Do app: Get the best in events, dining and travel right on your deviceWhat should you use when making your own wine coolers? Well, don't reach for the bottom shelf wine that just doesn't taste good, advises Cappy Sorentino, bar director of Spoonbar restaurant at the h2hotel in the wine country town of Healdsburg, Calif. On the other hand, don't go crazy and uncork an expensive bottle of wine, either."It doesn't have to be the best stuff because you're basically using it as a base," he says.Look for a wine that has a fair amount of acidity to it, i.e. "yes" to sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio, "no" to chardonnay that's spent a lot of time in oak barrels.

For red wines, Spanish wines are, not surprisingly, a good choice since sangria is a Spanish invention. Tempranillo makes a good choice.RELATED: 20 winebars around metro Phoenix | 68 happy hour spots in greater Phoenix He has an interesting take on sangria, which is usually wine fortified with something a little stronger and augmented with sugar and spices. At Spoonbar, he's using a rose wine with pisco (Peruvian brandy), plus a little sugar, some water, fresh pineapple juice, cinnamon and a touch of clove. It's "really refreshing," which is good for Healdsburg, where temperatures can get toasty.Joe Campanale, beverage director of four New York City neighborhood restaurants, encourages cocktail enthusiasts to get creative by mixing up their favorite single-serving cocktail in a pitcher for a group dinner or celebration. Keep the ingredients light, he advises, as in his Blame it on the Aperol cocktail served at the dell'anima restaurant which combines Aperol, Blue Coat gin, lemon juice in a pitcher with plenty of ice.

Give it a stir, pour into flute glasses and top off with sparkling wine for a bright effervescence.Here are a few more suggestions on ways to make your wine cooler-spritzer-sangria-cocktail pitcher perfect.Start to finish: 5 minutes4 ounces sauvignon blanc wine1 ounce silver or blanco tequilaCombine all ingredients in a tall, ice-filled glass. Stir gently, then serve immediately.Start to finish: 5 minutes4 ounces cabernet sauvignon wineSplit the vanilla bean in half lengthwise and scrape the seeds into a tall glass. Add the wine, rum and pineapple juice, stirring to combine. Add ice and top with seltzer water.Start to finish: 10 minutes1/3 cup frozen peach chunks6 ounces prosecco sparkling wineIn a blender, combine the watermelon, peaches and lemon juice. Using a mesh strainer, strain into 2 sparkling wine flutes, then top with prosecco.Start to finish: 10 minutes1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled2 ounces St. Germaine elderflower liqueurIn a blender, puree the strawberries until smooth. Using a mesh strainer, strain into a cocktail shaker.