The Best Ready-to-Drink Wines & Cocktails for Outdoor Adventures
WWMD – What would Margaret drink? Margaret Pearman is a certified sommelier under the Court of Master Sommeliers and curates the award-winning wine list at Charlie’s Coastal Bistro. Here are her sipping suggestions for outdoor living:
SIP & GO
When High Noon hit the shelves in 2019, the ready-to-drink (RTD) category was already on the rise. Little did the team at E. & J. Gallo know that we were about to enter one of the most prolonged happy hours of our lives — aka the COVID-19 lockdown. With bars closed and socializing shifting outdoors, our drinking habits evolved. Fortunately, here in the Lowcountry, the great outdoors has always been part of the lifestyle. Whether paddling out in a kayak or packing a cooler for a sandbar hangout, enjoying a convenient, flavorful drink has never been easier. Gone are the days when RTD options were limited to overly sweet Bacardi Breezers. Now the choices are practically overwhelming. To help navigate the RTD renaissance, I made a stop at the original island party shop: Roller’s Coligny. Here are my top picks for spring and summer sipping on the go:
WINE
1. Wander + Ivy:At 187ml, these sleek, screw-top glass bottles offer a perfect single-serving pour, making them ideal for mindful drinking. Plus, they’re made with organic grapes, so you can feel good about what’s in your glass (or, in this case, bottle).
2. Archer Roose: These 250ml canned wines bring global varietals to your cooler,
with bubbly from Veneto pinot grigio from Friuli, rosé from the south of France, sauvignon blanc from Chile and malbec from Argentina. Pro tip: drink it straight
from the can — pouring it into a glass can accentuate a metallic taste.
ALCOHOL-INFUSED
3. Sunboy: A small but mighty brand from New York, Sunboy blends alcohol with coconut water and real fruit juice. Coconut water is hydrating, so you might feel a little better the morning after. With a hefty dose of lime, the flavors are bright and tropical.
4. Mom Water: Created by an Indiana mom who grew tired of overly sweet, fizzy drinks, this vodka-infused spa water is light, refreshing and ideal for a hot day by the pool. Each flavor has a fun name (think Linda and Karen) and a crisp, clean taste.
5. Onda: A tequila-based sparkling drink that’s as light and refreshing as a sea breeze. With no artificial additives and no added sugar, it’s a guilt-free beachside sipper.
6. Long Drink: A new discovery for me, this gin-based RTD hails from Finland, where it was created in 1952 to serve Olympic crowds quickly. Now a Finnish classic, it’s crisp, slightly effervescent, and comes in a variety of flavors, including a zero-sugar option.
