Watermelon Rosé Cocktail

It’s been a few summers since the Rosé craze hit. I think it was maybe 2017-ish when “Rosé All Day” became our official mantra of summer. I was honestly so surprised at myself for actually enjoying pink wine. I had always associated pink wine with the White Zinfandel that came in those big jugs that my mom would order at a restaurant or drink with her girlfriends at barbecues. In college, when we tried to be fancy, we bought boxes of it with pour spouts that resembled the spouts you would find on a keg of beer. Pure class, I tell you.

Once I was old enough to get any sense of good taste, I dropped White Zinfandel like a bad habit. It wasn’t until we visited the amazing and gorgeous Napa Valley in the summer of 2015 that my eyes and taste buds opened to pink wine again. That year, you’d find a Rosé sampling on almost every tasting menu at every vineyard. Rosé was a big deal out there, and we brought our newfound love for pink wine back to the East coast in a big way. One of my favorite ways to enjoy Rosé is in this Watermelon Rosé Cocktail.

Why watermelon?

I learned early on that when you “Rosé all day” you end up having pretty rough nights. That’s the thing with day drinking – it always seems like a good idea for the first hour or two. After that you better hope you didn’t draw the short straw for family bedtime duties. The combination of wine and the hot summer sun? That’s a recipe for a hangover. That’s why I love this Watermelon Rosé Cocktail so much – it lets you have your Rosé and drink it too. Watermelon is has a 92% water content and is one of the most hydrating foods you can eat. Are you getting the method to my madness here? Drinking and hydrating at the same time – you’re welcome.

Choosing a good Rosé

A good Rosé should be light-bodied, more dry than sweet, crisp and refreshing. My favorite Rosés are made from the Grenache grape. Grenache is a grape mainly grown in France and Spain (where it’s known as Garnacha) and has a luscious, berry-forward palate. If it were up to me, I’d drink Grenache in its red or Rosé form all the time. It’s a seriously versatile grape and makes the most divine Rosés around. This Watermelon Rosé Cocktail showcases the crisp, fresh flavor of Rosé with just a few complements. Making fresh watermelon juice in your blender could not be easier, and when combined with Rosé wine and some fresh mint, you’ve got summer in a glass.

Customizing the Watermelon Rosé Cocktail

Now, I’m not typically a fan of adding sugar to drinks. In most traditional cocktail recipes that call for simple syrup, I’ll just leave it out. But when taste testing this Watermelon Rosé Cocktail, I could definitely see how some people may want it to be sweeter. I personally enjoy the pure sweetness that comes from the fruit juice, but as an option, you may want to add a little sugar to the muddled mint. It really comes down to personal preference. Try it without any added sugar first and see what you think, and if you want it a little sweeter, try a little sugar or stevia extract. I encourage you to play around with it and make this cocktail your own.

If you make this Watermelon Rosé Cocktail, let me know what you think! Which Rosé is your favorite? Did you think it needed extra sweetness? I’ll be chilling poolside with a cocktail in hand, waiting to hear from you. Enjoy!

Watermelon Rosé Cocktail

Crisp and refreshing, this summer cocktail is made with fresh watermelon and mint along with Rosé wine

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Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 0 mins

Total Time 15 mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Servings 1

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 4 oz. Rosé wine
• 1-2 cups cut-up watermelon enough to yield 2 oz. watermelon juice
• 3-4 fresh mint leaves plus additional for garnish
• 1/2 tsp. sugar or 1-2 drops stevia extract optional
• club soda

Instructions

 

• Place mint leaves into the bottom of a cocktail glass and muddle with a wooden spoon. (If adding sugar or stevia, add it to the muddled mint). Add crushed or cubed ice.
• Place cubed up watermelon into a blender and process until smooth. Strain out the pulp, and add 2 oz. of juice to the cocktail glass. Add Rosé. Top with club soda and stir gently.
• Garnish with additional mint leaves and watermelon wedges.

Keyword cocktail, easy

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