Wine Cooler

A wine cooler is just wine stretched with lemon-lime soda and poured over ice. Two ingredients, five minutes, and you’ve got a light, fizzy drink that’s easier to sip on a hot afternoon than a full glass of wine.

The ratio here is 2 ounces of wine to 5 ounces of lemon-lime soda, which means the soda does most of the work. That makes this significantly lower in alcohol than a standard glass of wine and much more refreshing. The citrus sweetness from the soda softens the wine’s tannins and acidity.

Any wine works here. White wine gives you a lighter, crisper cooler. Red wine creates something closer to a sangria-lite. Rose sits right in between.

Pour into an 8-ounce glass over ice and drink immediately while the fizz is still alive.

Pro Tips

• Use a chilled wine so the ice doesn’t melt too fast and water the drink down
• A dry wine balances better with the sweet soda than a wine that’s already sweet
• Pour the soda gently down the side of the glass to preserve carbonation
• Chill the glasses beforehand for the coldest possible drink

Variations

• Use ginger ale instead of lemon-lime soda for a spicier, less sweet cooler
• Add a splash of fruit juice (peach, cranberry, or pomegranate) for a fruity twist
• Swap the soda for sparkling water and a squeeze of fresh lime for a drier, less sweet spritzer