Wednesday Night Wine Down

​Jennifer Newens’ Wednesday Night Wine-Down: 52 Drinks for Low-Alcohol Midweek Sipping offers an exploration of light, flavorful cocktails designed for relaxed evenings. The book not only provides a seasonal approach to its collection of recipes, but also suggests the appropriate glassware, mixing method, and garnishes to level up your cocktail hour into something special.
Newens structures her book into four seasonal sections, each offering 13 recipes tailored to the flavors and moods of the time of year. The drinks have low-alcohol content, making them suitable for midweek relaxation. Each recipe includes detailed instructions, ingredient notes, and suggestions for presentation, emphasizing both taste and aesthetic appeal.​
The tradition of mixing wine with other ingredients dates back to ancient times. In ancient Greece, wine was often diluted with water and infused with herbs and spices for variety. This practice evolved through the centuries, leading to the development of mulled wines in medieval Europe and the more sophisticated wine cocktails we enjoy today.​
My biggest take away from this book was focusing the cocktail around flavor rather than using my favorite type of wine or on alcohol’s relaxing properties.
Some days are tougher than others, but on a good day, I reached for this book. Seeking a drink that delivered some refreshment, I opted for the Moscato and Strawberry Slush. Following Newens’ recipe, I blend the strawberries with a chilled bottle of Moscato, a touch of lemon juice, and ice, creating a refreshing slush.​
Wednesday Night Wine-Down is more than a collection of recipes; it’s an invitation to embrace the ritual of unwinding with intention and savoring the nuanced flavors that low-alcohol cocktails can offer.