We’re always looking for new ways to drink, whether it’s a pouch of rosé or a fruity cocktail in a can. So, when I read about U-Freeze Wine Slush, I was immediately intrigued. The stuff is packaged in 750 mL resealable packages and has a moderate 7 percent ABV. But this isn’t your typical pre-packaged, freezer-ready frozen drink — it’s legitimate wine. No artificial flavors, high-fructose corn syrup or sticky sweetness. It’s real wine. In slushie form.
U-Freeze was founded by Jeff Proch in Pennsylvania and is available in seven flavors: Sub-Zero Sangria, Glacial Grape, Tropical Fruit, Pink Lemonade, Polar Peach, Choco-Chili and Apple. Danya Henninger of Zagat sampled the Glacial Grape and Sub-Zero Sangria — she found the Glacial Grape a little too sweet, and the latter “perfectly tart.”
Proch operates the winery near the State College area in Pennsylvania, and told Penn Live that he had always loved slushies as a child, and wanted to create a boozy, adult version to make at home. He told the site “there are a lot of products on the market that are mixes or powders that you add wine to, which are expensive, complicated and usually do not turn out as advertised. Our product is unique because it’s just wine and all you have to do is stick the whole pouch in the freezer, no mixing, blenders or ice required.”
All of the juice is sourced from the Erie area and upstate New York, and Proch has plans to break ground on a vineyard later this year. At this location, he’s also planning to have an on-site tasting and sales room. Those Penn State kids sure are lucky!
While it’s still chilly outside, we’ll be dreaming about U-Freeze’s red wine options, like the Choco-Chili, which is a red wine slush infused with chocolate, and the Apple flavor, which has lots of warm spiced added. When it gets a little bit warmer, we’ll be all over the Pink Lemonade pouch and the Tropical Fruit flavor, which is white wine with mango and citrus flavors.
We think U-Freeze pouches are perfect for summer activities like boating, hanging at the beach or pool, or tailgating at a concert. It’s so much easier to bring along a bagged drink instead of a bulky box of wine or a heavy bottle.
