This refreshing wine cooler drink is made with inexpensive white Riesling wine, fresh watermelon, lime and mint syrup.
For a party, make this wine cooler ahead of time, and keep in the refrigerator. Just before your guests arrive, pour into a pitcher with a container of ice cubes on the side, and you're all set with a signature drink for your guests!
Updated August 10, 2020
Watermelon is a perfect dessert, salad or drink in the summer. Offering a signature drink, like this watermelon wine cooler, at your next BBQ is fun and easy. And because wine coolers typically use very inexpensive wines, they fit into most budgets.
Other watermelon ideas for a summer BBQ that I love to make are a Watermelon and Peach Salsa, which can also be served as a salad, and a classic, easy Watermelon Salad with Feta. For dessert, it's sooooo easy to grill slices of watermelon, and then squirt the slices with lime, and scatter some mint over the top. Or make skewers of melon balls marinated in honey, ginger and lime. They make a great appetizer or dessert.
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What is a wine cooler?
So, what actually is a wine cooler? A wine cooler is loosely defined as a fizzy combination of an inexpensive wine, some kind of fruit juice, carbonated water and sugar. Bartles & Jaymes and Seagrams were huge players with a variety of flavors.
Think of them as adult soda pops with an alcoholic content similar to beer.
They were super popular in the 1980's, but suddenly disappeared from the market due to the way wine was suddenly taxed. The closest thing today is White Claw hard seltzer that has a 5% alcohol content.
Ingredients for Watermelon Wine Cooler
- Seedless watermelon - be sure it's seedless, since you don't want to spend time removing the seeds!
- Cheap white wine - I used a Gallo Riesling wine.
- Lime juice
- Fresh mint - to make the mint syrup. Or you can purchase mint syrup. Many stores, in their alcohol or baking section, sell bottles of it. I'm a big fan of Torani syrups.
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Recommended Equipment
Instructions
Step 1 (20 minutes)
Make the mint syrup. If you choose to make your own syrup stir equal amounts of sugar and water together in a small pan over medium heat until the sugar completely dissolves. Add the mint leaves and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool.
Keep refrigerated until needed. It will keep in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks.
Step 2 (15 - 20 minutes)
Make the watermelon juice. While the mint syrup cools, cut a seedless watermelon in half. Place it with the cut side facing down on a work surface. Using a sharp chef's knife, cut away the rind and discard.
Chop the watermelon into 1-inch cubes, place in a blender or food processor fitted with a metal blade, and whirl like crazy until the watermelon is completely liquified.
Strain the liquid through 2 layers of cheesecloth to remove the pulp. But this is strictly optional. A lot of people like watermelon juice with the pulp.
Note: 1 small seedless watermelon makes around 8 cups, cubed, and about 4 ½ - 5 cups of juice with the pulp.
Step 3 (1 minute)
Mix. Stir together all of the ingredients. Pour into a pitcher and chill until you're ready to serve.
Step 4
Serve over ice with a sprig of mint.
Other Summer Cocktails You Need Tonight
Watermelon Wine Cooler with Lime
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Watermelon Wine Cooler with Lime and Mint Syrup
Ingredients
Wine Cooler
- ½ small seedless watermelon
- 3 cups white Riesling I used Gallo Family Vineyard Riesling
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- 3 tablespoons Mint Syrup recipe below
- pinch salt
- 2 ounces club soda
Mint Syrup
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup mint leaves
Instructions
Mint Syrup
- Make the mint syrup. If you choose to make your own syrup stir equal amounts of sugar and water together in a small pan over medium heat until the sugar completely dissolves. Add the mint leaves and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool.Keep refrigerated until needed. It will keep in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks.
Wine Cooler
- Make the watermelon juice. While the mint syrup cools, cut a seedless watermelon in half. Place it with the cut side facing down on a work surface. Using a sharp chef's knife, cut away the rind and discard.Chop the watermelon into 1-inch cubes, place in a blender or food processor fitted with a metal blade, and whirl like crazy until the watermelon is completely liquified.Strain the liquid through 2 layers of cheesecloth to remove the pulp. But this is strictly optional. A lot of people like watermelon juice with the pulp.Note: 1 small seedless watermelon makes around 8 cups of cubed watermelon, and about 4 ½ - 5 cups of juice with the pulp. The amount of juice you get from your watermelon will depend on the size of the watermelon, how juicy it is, and the amount of pulp you include.
- Mix. Stir together all of the ingredients. Pour into a pitcher and chill until you're ready to serve.
- Serve over ice with a sprig of mint.
Liz
Oh, man, THIS is the way to beat the heat! So beautiful and refreshing, Susan!!!
Renee
Watermelon is such a great summer flavor and having it part of a wine cocktail is the perfect way to celebrate Labor Day.
Katie
I cannot get over how REFRESHING this drink looks! The color is simply stunning as well. Where's my glass...fill it up!
Shaina
Watermelon, mint and lime...what a refreshing combination! And it just gets better when you add in the riesling. Love this drink!
Run DMT
This looks incredibly refreshing! Totally pinning this!
Emily {Jelly Toast}
This looks absolutely lovely, Susan!! Beautiful photo!
Nichole
I bet a homemade wine cooler is MUCH better than anything I ever purchased in my early twenties claiming to be the same thing 🙂 I loved Gallo's Reisling as well; my new favorite these days!
Betsy @ Desserts Required
This is a fabulous combination!! I love watermelon with lime and mint...add a fab Gallo wine to the mix and I will be a very happy camper!
cheri
What a refreshing drink Susan. I can't believe how fast this summer has been going, we leave for phoenix the end of next month.
Alida
The watermelon and riesling combination is absolutely genius! Add your tasty mint syrup, and you have perfection. Love this!!
Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen
Oh I love watermelon in a cocktail, and I know it must have been fabulous with the Riesling!!
Kathia Rodriguez
This is a great idea to used my watermelon, i can't wait to try it.
Thalia @ butter and brioche
wish the weather was hot enough here that i could justify making a watermelon cooler, they look delicious. shame it's winter in Australia!
Heather // girlichef
This looks so refreshing, Susan - definitely the perfect addition to a Labor Day (or any summer entertaining) menu!
Isabel Laessig
What a great idea for entertaining! This will be the hit of my next party.
Terra
What a refreshing cocktail. I would love love this gorgeous drink. Perfect to serve at a BBQ or Summer party. Yum, Hugs, Terra
christina
What a fabulous combination of flavors! And the color is so perfect for a summer drink. Reislings are one of my favorite wines, so I'm sure i'd love this!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips
Did you seriously say the "H", "T"", "C", and "NY" words? Nooo! I'm going to just sip on one of these and live in blissful denial!
Hezzi-D
I never thought to add watermelon to my wine but I love the gorgeous color!!
Nicole
Watermelon tastes so good this summer! I love it in this delicious beverage!
Anne @ Webicurean
I needed a recipe for watermelon, and here it is! This sounds fantastic!
Mary
These drinks look so refreshing! I bet they're delicious too.
Michelle @ The Complete Savorist
That looks downright refreshing. I could use a glass (maybe a pitcher) right now.
Kim - Liv Life
Oohh!! watermelon and mint is a fabulous combo… but add in a little Gallo and we have a treat!
The Food Hunter
Cheers!
Marion@Life Tastes Good
Watermelon is one of my absolute favorite things ever! This sounds so refreshing!
Lori @ RecipeGirl
This is my kind of cocktail! So refreshing and delicious!
Lisa @ Garnish with Lemon
I can't believe it's Labor Day already either, I want summer back. I'll be sipping on some of these delicious cocktails this weekend!
Lori @ Foxes Love Lemons
You are single-handedly changing my misconceptions about what a "wine cooler" really is. I mean, I don't think I've ever even HAD one of those awful bottled ones, but I bet they're awful. And this is the complete opposite of that. I cannot wait to try this! Need to get my hands on another bottle of Gallo Riesling!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust
I love that wine - and this cooler sounds fabulous! Pinned!
Christie
SUSAN! Your wine cooler looks FABULOUS!
Pure Grace Farms
Stopping by to let you know I featured your fabulous post on Foodie Fridays this week. Party starts at 9pm EST. Hope to see you there!
Blessings,
Shari
Roxana | Roxana's Home Baking
I'm ready for the fall but in the same time I wish summer was still around with its abundance of fresh fruit, especially watermelons!
These refreshing drinks sound just perfect for the Labor day celebrations!
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen
I absolutely love those glasses! And what a refreshing cooler recipe 🙂
Michael
Love this! I didn't have the same wine but I tried it with another white. It was great!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Yay!! I'm so glad you like it!! Thanks for letting me know 🙂
Christopher Arnold
I love those glasses of wine. It looks so refreshing. Watermelon is such a great for summer.