Easy Homemade Red Wine Ice Cream (or Sorbet)

Let me share with you a super easy recipe to prepare and enjoy a rich sorbet or wine ice cream (as you prefer to call it) made with red wine. So run around and find the ingredients to prepare it!

If you’re seeking a sophisticated and refreshing dessert that never goes out of style, look no further than an exquisite wine ice cream. This particular recipe, which results in a rich sorbet-like consistency, embodies the perfect “adult” dessert. It moves beyond simple sweetness, offering a complex, layered flavor profile that has been a favorite for generations. Creating red wine ice cream at home is surprisingly straightforward, allowing you to blend the deep, fruity notes of your preferred vintage with fresh berries for a truly custom and luxurious treat.

Crafting the Perfect Wine Ice Cream Flavor

The timeless appeal of this dessert lies in its perfect balance. The vibrant blend of ripe berries—like the fresh strawberries and blackberries in your recipe—is naturally enhanced by the depth and slight acidity of the red wine. The cooking step is crucial, as it concentrates the fruit flavor and helps the sugar fully dissolve, ensuring your homemade wine ice cream freezes into a wonderfully smooth texture. By pairing the wine with fruit and a hint of balsamic vinegar, you achieve an elegant dessert that is refreshing, deeply satisfying, and an always-appropriate finale to any meal.

The Recipe: Red Wine Sorbet

📝 Ingredients:

1 pound fresh cut strawberries
1 pound of blackberries
2 cups of sugar
1 \frac{1}{2} cups of red wine (your preference)
2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon of vanilla
\frac{1}{2} teaspoon of salt
Whipped cream (for topping)
Extra topping fruits (optional)

👩‍🍳 Steps:

Cook the Base: Combine the strawberries, blackberries, sugar, red wine, balsamic vinegar, vanilla, and salt in a large bowl. Cook this mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the fruit has a smooth consistency and the sugar is completely dissolved.
Cool Down: Remove the mixture from the heat and allow it to stand at room temperature until it is completely cool.
Blend and Freeze: Transfer the prepared mixture to a blender or food processor. Blend until it is completely smooth. Transfer this liquid mixture to an airtight container and freeze overnight.Pro Tip for No-Churn Sorbet: If you don’t have an ice cream maker, stir or blend the mixture every hour for the first 3-4 hours of freezing. This physical agitation helps break up ice crystals and results in a creamier, smoother sorbet texture.
Serve: Put the sherbet into a nice container or individual serving bowls. Top with a generous dollop of whipped cream and add more fresh topping fruits if desired.

¡Ready to enjoy!

🍷 Choosing the Perfect Red Wine

The type of red wine you choose will significantly influence the final flavor profile of your dessert. For this recipe, which features the sweetness and slight tartness of strawberries and blackberries, you want a wine that is fruity, moderately bold, and not overly tannic or dry.

Wine Type	Why It Works	Flavor Impact
Merlot	Generally smoother and fruit-forward with soft tannins. It blends seamlessly with the berries without overpowering them.	Adds notes of plum, black cherry, and vanilla—a classic, crowd-pleasing base.
Zinfandel	Known for its jammy, robust, and sometimes spicy character. It holds up well to the cooking process and adds depth.	Imparts flavors of blackberry, anise, and a hint of rich pepperiness that complements the blackberries beautifully.
Pinot Noir	A lighter, more delicate choice, but often highly aromatic with bright acidity. Use this if you prefer a less intense wine flavor.	Offers subtle notes of red cherry and raspberry, enhancing the fresh, bright quality of the strawberries.

Recommendation: For the best balance of fruit and body, a Merlot or a Zinfandel is highly recommended. Always use a wine that you enjoy drinking, as its flavor will be concentrated in the final frozen treat.