Member Reviews

Wednesday Night Wine-Down has alluring, easy recipes and gorgeous photography. It stays true to its mission start to finish of offering relaxing, low ABV recipes that don't require extensive preparation, or any cooking, or the need to hunt down obscure liqueurs. Some of the drinks are ones I know and love already, and others are very new. But the arrangement by season gives the assortment an easeful rhythm for the colors, flavors and moods of the year. Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to preview this cookbook! It is on my wishlist before its publication.

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This was a very good book. It was well-written. It has a wealth of information. I cant wait to try these drinks.

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This book features 52 wine cocktails, split by the seasons. They are great for a midweek drink, as they are low on alcohol and perfect for me, as I am already enjoying a drink every Wednesday. I have already tried some of them and plan to try more in the future. The ones I tried tasted good; so far, my favorite was the "Goodnight Kiss", especially because of its visual effect.
Thank you to "The Collective Book Studio" for providing me with this book to review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

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Wednesday Night Wine-Down is the third book in the Cheers to the Week series, and I must say I can't wait to dive into the other books as well!

Jennifer Newens does a wonderful job making this book one that I would want to leave out as the photos are stunning, but also making it undaunting as it is broken down by season and then by week. Don't know what to serve at a party? This book would be perfect to pull out and focus on the season you are in, and then select one from the list. The added parts for syrups or bitters sprinkled throughout doesn't force you to flip back and forth but instead are only normally a few pages away, making it easier to plan.

Everything in this book looks so visually stunning, that I would guarantee a guess that they also taste wonderful!

For instance, "Instant Sangria", I as the author, always thought of Sangria for a large crowd. So a single glass sounds wonderful, and again not overwhelming if by chance you don't like what you made. But I for one can't wait to give a few a try!

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This is such a great recipe book! I recommend this to anyone that loves drinks and wants to try new ones! It is written in such a well organised way and everything is so easy to understand

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Wednesday Night Wine-Down is a visually stunning book of 52 drink recipes. The recipes are displayed in a clear, concise, and visually aesthetic manner, perfect for finding a recipe after a long day. The book includes recipes for a multitude of spirits, as well as sectioned by season. Can’t wait to “Wine-Down” with a cocktail from this book!

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There’s a new wine book coming out in May 2025, “Wednesday Night Wine-Down: 52 Drinks for Low-Alcohol Midweek Sipping.” It’s by Jennifer Newens, and is being published by The Collective Book Studio on May 20, 2025.

Lately I’ve been making a simple Campari or Aperol and soda for a refreshing drink that still feels like a treat. That’s getting pretty boring, so I’m excited to browse through some of the 52 low-alcohol drink recipes in this new book.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for gifting me an advance digital copy of this wine book to preview!

The book begins with an introduction to wine-forward cocktails, and ends with a list of three resources (shops) to help stock your home wine cocktail bar.

The wines recommended for making the cocktails include both dry and sweet, still and sparkling, fortified and not. The author reminds us that making these wine cocktails is a great way to use up the little bits leftover in your wine bottles (although “leftover wine” doesn’t happen often in my house!)

There is one drink recipe for every week of the year here. Sprinkled throughout the book are tips on glassware, Campari vs. Aperol, a note on Pimm’s, and learn how to work with apples and pears.

This attractive, slim 79 page volume is perfect for a hostess gift, birthday present or a housewarming gift.

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This cocktail book focuses on cocktails where wine is a component. I really enjoyed this book and found that the cocktails were achievable and most did not rely on an extensive bar. This book really highlighted for me how many classic cocktails utilize wine as a component and changed my perspective on making sure that that I consider the wine just as much a component in the cocktail as I do the rest of the spirits. This would be a great book to give that girl friend that loves her wine but can be known to enjoy a cocktail on occasion. Great Mother's Day gift also! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

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This is a very nice collection of recipes for lower alcohol, wine-forward cocktails. With beautiful photography and recipes grouped by season, it is easy to find just the right cocktail. I appreciate that this book covers the basics (Sangrias, Mimosas) as well as wine-centric takes on classic cocktails (Red Wine Mule, Winecar), and new-to-me creations too.

Thanks to NetGalley and The Collective Book Studio for the ARC.

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I absolutely LOVED this book! Wednesday Night Wine-Down makes wine cocktails feel so fun, approachable, and perfect for a midweek treat without going overboard. The recipes are super creative, using wine in ways I never would have thought of—like a Red Wine Margarita or a White Wine Mojito. It’s such a great way to enjoy a little something special without the heaviness of traditional cocktails.

I also appreciated how the book is organized by season, so there’s always something fresh and fitting for the time of year. The drinks feel elevated but still easy to make, and the photography is stunning. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to try every single recipe.

If you enjoy wine but want something more fun and refreshing than just pouring a glass, this is a must-have. It’s perfect for casual nights in, entertaining friends, or just treating yourself midweek. Highly recommend!

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I enjoyed this simple recipe book with wine cocktails as a focus. It includes a great forward of short histories of wine cocktails, descriptions and definitions, and basis for wine cocktails as a mid-week drink. I felt like there could be more of this throughout however to accompany the recipes. I love the visuals in the book. The images really make you want to create these lovely drinks. I think the ingredients and drink types were well chosen, diverse, and simple enough for most drinkers to follow. However readers should know this book includes some wines that are considered high alcohol for wine (above 14%), so the low-alcohol subhead may be a bit misleading for those looking for low-alcohol wines. This book would be a great addition for any wine drinker or cocktail lover.

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Wednesday Night Wine-Down is the perfect way to unwind midweek with stylish, low-alcohol cocktails that are easy to make and utterly delightful. With 52 seasonal recipes—one for each week of the year—this book takes you on a journey through a year’s worth of creative, flavorful infusions. The best part? These cocktails feature wine, Port, sherry, and vermouth, giving you a lighter way to enjoy your favorite flavors without overdoing it. Whether you're craving a crisp Aperol Spritz or something more adventurous like a Spanish Negroni made with sherry, these recipes offer a delightful mix of classic drinks and original creations, all crafted with seasonal ingredients.

Each recipe in Wednesday Night Wine-Down is designed to be approachable, using widely available wines and spirits to bring you a refreshing cocktail experience every week. With over 50 stunning full-color photographs, you’ll feel inspired to whip up a gorgeous drink to wind down after a long day. From the French Kir to a refreshing White Wine Mojito, this book has something for every taste, and the low-ABV nature of these cocktails ensures you can enjoy them guilt-free. If you’re looking for a new midweek tradition, this book is the perfect companion to elevate your Wednesday night.

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Absolutely loved this, so many recipes that lead me to so many ideas and new drinks to host with. I love the series this author has and feel like with every book there is a new exploration into a new world of cocktails/mocktails

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This cocktail guide was so fun and beautiful to look at! There is a good mix of classic and more unique drinks, from fruity to coffee-based and everything in between, there is something for every cocktail drinker here. I love the division of the chapters based on seasons, it helped to find the right inspiration for the time of year and weather. On top of it all, the design of the book is beautiful, pleasing to flip through even when not looking for a recipe.

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Wednesday Night Wine-Down is a beautifully designed cocktail book with easy, low-alcohol recipes perfect for a midweek unwind. The clear, accessible format makes it simple to mix great drinks without overdoing it.

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Thank you to NetGalley for the free e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a beautiful cocktail recipe book, and it’s great for anyone who loves a cocktail but would prefer a lower alcohol alternative -plus each recipe makes just one cocktail!
I loved that the recipes were accessible, the first few pages offer simple explanations of terms, ingredients, and equipment without implying you need to run to William Sonoma before you get started.
The recipes themselves are short and sweet, clearly laid out and without an excessive story pairing.
My favourites so far are the ‘St Germain Spritz’ -nothing says fresh like elderflower- and the ‘Passionista’ which tastes like a grownup ‘Pornstar Martini’. I’m particularly looking forward to trying the ‘Pimm’s inspired’ ‘Zin Cup’ this summer as it sounds like the perfect blend of British and California -so it’s perfect for our household.

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I really enjoyed this recipe book. I found it detailed without being over complicated. It had just the right amount of recipes (one for each Wednesday of the year) without hitting the mental block of having too much choice.

Wine has been my favourite tipple, and too often you find the market oversaturated with mundane cocktail recipe books. This combines to give the best of two and feels just a little more grown up and classy. I can't wait to have guests over to try and few more out.

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I requested this book being attracted by the 'low alcohol' tag on the cover but I would consider the vast majority of the recipes to be still quite high especially with the liberal use of Brandy/Cognac. It would have been helpful to have an indication of ABV or units so one doesn't have to get a calculator out. I personally have to seriously restrict myself due to medication. However, as an alternative to the much heavier cocktails it's good to try some different flavours which can try substituting alcohol free wines with some Pineau a fortified wine from Cognac, then the flavours are there but not the alcohol. The recipes look easy to follow. So although a good cocktail book it's a little misleading with low alcohol advertising.

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This is a great addition to the Cheers to the Week series. This book offers the perfect recipes for a midweek night cap. It's not too often that you come across a cocktail book offering low-ACV recipes. Wine can be intimidating and this book offers vibrant recipes that are easily accessible. The photos and details are beautiful! Would definetly recommend.

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This is a lovely recipe book of cocktails that lean towards lower alcohol and single serve (hence the Wednesday reference to ensure things don’t get too messy mid week!)

Photography is beautiful throughout and usefully the book is categorised by season, with a different recipe for each week of the year.

The recipes themselves are appealingly simple (again a selling point for mid-week). The ‘Moscatto and Strawberry Slush’ has me sold, though really with this book I am spoiled for choice!

This is a book I would be delighted to have on display on my coffee table to add a touch of elegance.

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.

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