Gatorwine Emerges: How the Gatorade-Wine Mix Could Upend Your Dinner Party Plans

Initially met with skepticism, the concoction of Gatorwine, which mixes inexpensive red wine with Gatorade, transitions most tasters from doubtful to delighted. It specifically combines red wine priced under $12 with the blue Glacier Freeze flavor of Gatorade, known for its berry and citrus undertones. Gatorade’s own description hints at these flavors.

The odd beverage surfaced seemingly out of thin air through a contribution by a YouTube user called “GoatsNowhere,” as seen in a tasting episode hosted on the Babish Culinary Universe channel, where host Andrew Rea, popularly known as Binging with Babish, experienced and popularized it. Rea’s unexpected enjoyment and commentary highlighted its quirky appeal.

In his review, Rea remarked that the drink was unlike anything he had ever tried, comparing its unexpectedly delightful taste to that of sangria. Despite its bizarre mix, he admitted preferring it over well-known brands such as Barefoot or Yellowtail. Rea humorously noted that while the combination was bizarrely appealing, it served well as a palate cleanser during his tasting session, elevating its rating from a 6 to a 7. The drink’s preparation was simple yet flexible, potentially served chilled or over ice, and he even found himself going back for more servings.

With Rea’s large audience now aware, curiosity has spiked among many, leading to surprising endorsements from first-time tasters who often expected less but were pleasantly surprised.

“I tried gatorwine yesterday. I was ready to hate it. I made more today. You win,” commented mattyj5751 on YouTube.

“It’s kind of calming down the wine, for people who don’t drink wine,” says Instagram’s @wendellion.

“Oh no. Oh no! It’s good,” says chagrined TikToker @wanderingmallory.

Cocktail creator-reviewer Prescott Vanmeyer III, better known as Unemployed Wine Guy, likes gatorwine well enough to suggest using the idea to stretch your red wine supply, and also tests out the admonition that it must be the light blue one. When he tries it with the Glacier Cherry and Grape flavors, his face tells you everything you need to know.

Well, I’ve put off this moment for as long as possible. While many might opt to measure by eye, I’ve arranged my ingredients and am using a cocktail jigger to ensure a perfect 50-50 mix.

I’ve selected a pinot noir, as we are apparently venturing into sangria land, and given the direction to keep costs under $12, the choice of Low Hanging Fruit was irresistible. It’s one of the more affordable wines, yet surprisingly decent. It leans tart, rich in berry flavors, and just astringent enough to catch interest—a term wine experts might deem “approachable.” Plus, there’s no worry about any debris during uncorking since the cork is synthetic.

The mix here is 2.5 ounces each of red wine and Glacier Freeze Gatorade. The resulting color is pleasantly a burgundy hue, surprisingly clear rather than purple or muddy. With the alcohol content halved, it lacks body significantly.

A fine red typically harmonizes acidity, astringency, fruit, and alcohol. Here, the Gatorade diminishes the acidity to a level near that of a milkshake, and much like how a pinch of salt in coffee can suppress bitterness, the electrolytes dampen the tannins. The aftertaste is abruptly absent, and it’s as complex as a straight line. Smooth, inoffensive, slightly patronizing—comparable to sipping on a Care Bear.

But Care Bears are pretty delightful! They spread joy, demanding nothing in return. Gatorwine isn’t going to do anything to upset you; in fact, it giggles a little bit when you sip it. I decided to really lean into the sangria angle and let it chill with diced fruit for a few hours, and honestly, although the fruit at the end is the best part and I don’t suggest ice since it’s already dilute, you could serve this at a dinner party. The only people who will know are the ones who have tried it before, and they’re not going to want to admit it by way of revealing your secrets.

Surely by this point, you have questions. I still have some myself. But as a registered dietitian, I’ll take a crack at some of the ones that show up in the comments most.

First, is there any benefit to drinking this? Well, on the one hand, I’ve never said to a client, “You know, as your dietitian, I really think you should start drinking.” There is nothing in this experience that you can’t get from a great mocktail, and any alleged health benefits are vastly overstated. But, on the other hand, it has half the alcohol by volume of wine by itself, so if you’ve already decided to have a glass, that’s a good thing in relative terms.

Second, will the electrolytes help ameliorate the risk of hangovers? Maybe just a little, in that it could reduce the dehydrating effects of alcohol, but if you’re drinking enough gatorwine to need hangover amelioration, maybe you should reevaluate your life choices.

Lastly, is it worth the shame of going through the grocery checkout with these ingredients just to try a guilty glass with your next frozen pizza night?

Yeah … it kind of is.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com

About the Author: Chris Lehoux

Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored!