Not a Margarita...But a Wine-A-Rita™

In 1995, Donna Griffin and Judy Smith, good friends and business partners from Texarkana, Texas, came up with a new idea for a frozen drink.  They both liked margaritas and wine and, after experimenting with several  ingredient combinations, created  the perfect recipe. They developed a powdered blend of berry flavors, that when mixed with wine and ice in a blender, produced a frothy, sweet refreshing drink. The pair named their first creation, the Wine Glacé®.  

The new drink mixture was well received at the 1995 National Gourmet Show and won the coveted "best new drink" award.  Following the successful introduction of Wine Glace®, the pair added two additional cocktail mixes to the Wine-A-Rita product line; Peach Bellini and CosmoRita. 

In addition to the 1995 award, the products were awarded  the "Blue Ribbon" at the 2006 Dessert Expo and chosen as "Editor's pick 2009 - Best New Product" by AOL Foods.

We spoke with Judy Smith, co-founder of the company, and she described the distinct characteristics of each mix.  "The Glacé  is berry flavored and the type of wine used will determine the flavor of the drink; it has the strongest flavor of the three products. The CosmoRita has a cranberry-citrus flavor and has the lightest flavor. The Peach Bellini, like its name, has strong peach flavoring."  The ladies like to blend the Peach Bellini with champagne to add a few bubbles to the drink.  The newest addition to the line, the Senorita, made its début a few weeks ago. The flavor is based on the Margarita and can be mixed with either white wine or tequila.

The mixes are very versatile and can be blended with your favorite red or white wine, vodka, or fruit juice.  For a full-bodied drink, mix with Merlot, or try Zinfandel for a lighter taste, or a fruit wine for a sweeter taste. KosherEye especially liked the CosmoRita  mixed with vodka and Ginger Ale.  We added an extra splash or two of vodka and ice, and declared the mixture perfect!

Wine-A-Rita cocktail mixes are easy, convenient, a good party drink and great for wine drinkers.  All you need is wine, ice and a blender. How easy is that!  Each package makes twelve  6-ounce servings and has wine suggestions specific for each mix.

As of January, 2010, all Wine-A-Rita products are certified Kay Kosher (K KOF) by Rabbi Solomon B. Shapiro of Queens, NY.  The K KOF symbol appears on their new product, Senorita, and will appear on all new packaging for their other drink mixes.  Please be aware that existing packaging contains the previous kosher symbol of "K" and is not authorized by Rabbi Shapiro.

We salute Wine-A-Rita for the packaging of Wine Glacé®.  The company contracts with Business Opportunities Inc., a special program providing employment for adults who have developmental disabilities. This organization cuts and sews the fabric for the Wine Glacé® bags.

For product, company and purchasing information, contact Wine-A-Rita.