Memorial Day Weekend Wine Guide: Cookouts, Cans & Sangria the Easy Way

Purple Toad Winery & Distillery | May 2026 

Cabernet Sauvignon does not belong at a cookout. 

Tannic, dry red wine paired with smoky BBQ, sticky burgers, and 85-degree heat is a setup for a miserable afternoon. The wines that actually win Memorial Day weekend are bold, fruit-forward, easy-drinking, and totally unfussy -- chilled, over ice, in a can, or blended into sangria. Exactly what Purple Toad makes. 

This is your Memorial Day wine playbook: the right wines for the grill, the right way to serve them, easy sangria for a crowd, and how much to actually buy. 58% of Americans are firing up the grill this Memorial Day weekend.1 Here is how to win yours. 

Memorial Day 2026 is Monday, May 25. Order by mid-May for guaranteed delivery -- or come grab what you need from either Bowling Green or Paducah. 

Why Fruit Wine Wins at Cookouts 

Most wine pairing advice was written for indoor dinners with china plates. Cookouts are different. Here is why fruit wine handles the occasion better than the usual grape suspects: 

• Handles heat better -- fruit wines are built to be served chilled or even over ice. Tannic reds get harsh and astringent in the sun. 

• Complements smoky and sweet flavors -- BBQ sauce is sweet. Brisket is smoky. Fruit wine matches both naturally. 

• No fussy serving rules -- pour it cold, pour it warm, pour it over ice. It still tastes good. 

• Crowd-friendly -- whether your guests are wine veterans or first-timers, a fruit-forward sweet wine works for everyone. Nobody has to settle.

• Available in cans -- $4.99 for a single serve, no glass to break, fits in any cooler. 

The Cookout Pairing Cheat Sheet 

Here is exactly which Purple Toad wine to grab for whatever is coming off the grill: 

Need a deeper dive on pairing? See our Food Pairing Guide for everything from charcuterie to dessert. 

The Canned Wine Section (Yes, Really) 

Canned wine is no longer a novelty -- it is one of the fastest-growing categories in the wine industry, projected to reach $211 million by 2030 (11% annual growth).4 64% of Gen Z consumers say they would pay more for the convenience. Why? Because cans solve every cookout problem at once: no glass at the pool or lake, no corkscrew, no opened bottle going flat in the heat. Pop the top, drink, recycle. Done. 

Purple Toad's canned wines run $4.99 each -- the same wines you love, packaged for the way you actually drink in summer:

• Lauren's Blackberry can -- the sweet blackberry favorite, no glass needed • Strawberry Lemonade can -- bright, refreshing, perfect by the pool 

• Black Peach can -- bold and fruity, summer in a can 

Easy Sangria for a Crowd 

If you are feeding more than 6 people, sangria is the move. One pitcher feeds many, it looks great, and Purple Toad's fruit wines are basically pre-made sangria bases. Here is the simplest possible recipe: 

Memorial Day Sangria (1 pitcher, serves 6-8) 

• 1 bottle Purple Toad Tropical Sangria or Lauren's Blackberry 

• 2 cups fresh fruit (strawberries, peaches, blackberries, citrus slices -- any combo) • 1/4 cup orange juice or lemonade 

• 1 can or bottle of soda water (lemon-lime soda also works for extra sweetness) • Ice 

Method: Slice fruit, drop in pitcher. Pour wine and juice over fruit. Chill for 1-2 hours (longer is better). Right before serving, top with soda water and ice. Done. 

Wine Slushies (the Crowd-Pleaser) 

Memorial Day weather hits 80+. Slushies hit different at 80+. The recipe is shockingly simple: 

• 1 bottle Purple Toad fruit wine (any sweet variety works) 

• 2 cups frozen fruit (matches the wine -- frozen peaches with Peach wine, etc.) • 1/4 cup lemonade or fruit juice 

• Ice -- 2 cups 

Method: Blend everything together until smooth. Adjust ice for thickness. Serve in any cup -- ideally with a straw and a fruit garnish for the photo.

For the full slushie playbook -- including alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions -- see our Wine Slushies blog. 

Wine Spritzers (Lower ABV, All-Day Drinking)

The math: 3 parts wine, 1 part soda water, over ice. That is the entire recipe.

Wine spritzers cut the alcohol in half without losing the flavor. They are perfect for the friends who want to enjoy the day without ending it at 4pm. Try Purple Toad's Peach or Tropical Sangria as a base -- the sweet fruit flavor holds up beautifully when diluted. 

• Pour 4-5 oz Purple Toad wine over ice 

• Top with 1-2 oz soda water 

• Garnish with a slice of citrus or a few fresh berries 

• Stir lightly -- done 

How Much Wine to Buy (the Math) 

The party planner rule: Plan 1-2 glasses per person per hour, with a standard bottle holding about 5 glasses. For a 4-hour cookout, plan around half a bottle per guest. Here is the cheat sheet: 

Better to overbuy than underbuy. Purple Toad wines keep beautifully -- if you have leftover bottles after the weekend, see our Serving & Storage Guide for how to make them last. 

Beyond Wine: Bourbons and Whiskeys for the Cookout 

Purple Toad is also on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Memorial Day weekend is prime bourbon season -- a pour neat after dinner, an Old Fashioned at sunset, or a peach whiskey on the rocks while the grill cools down. Here is the lineup: 

• 6 Year Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon (92 proof, $39.99) -- balanced, approachable, perfect for Old Fashioneds and bourbon lemonade

• 7 Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon (92 proof, $59.99) -- more refined character, ideal for sipping neat or with one cube 

• Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon (118 proof, $79.99) -- bold, full-flavored, a serious bourbon for serious drinkers 

• Double Oaked 11 Year Kentucky Whiskey (94 proof, $60) -- cinnamon, caramel, graham cracker; a dessert-like sipper 

• Peach Whiskey (80 proof) -- 4-year-old Kentucky bourbon blended with our peach wine -- bourbon backbone, real peach lift, gorgeous on ice 

Stock Up Before May 25 

Memorial Day weekend will fly by -- get what you need now. Three options: 

Bowling Green Flagship 

• Address: 6245 Cemetery Road, Bowling Green, KY 42103 

• Hours: Mon-Thu 10:30-6:30, Fri-Sat 10:30-8, Sun 10:30-6:30 

• 20,000 sq ft, 65-foot tasting bar, 25-foot spirits bar 

• 60 miles north of Nashville on I-65 

Paducah 

• Address: 4275 Old US Hwy 45 S, Paducah, KY 42003 

• Hours: Sun-Thu 10:30-6, Fri-Sat 10:30-8 

• Tours: Sat 1 & 4 PM, Sun 2:30 PM ($10/person, includes wine glass) 

• #1 thing to do in Paducah on TripAdvisor (4.8 stars) 

Order Online 

• purpletoadwinery.com -- ships to 29 states + D.C. 

• Free shipping over $65 (about 4 bottles or a few canned wine packs) 

• Order by mid-May for guaranteed Memorial Day delivery 

Shop the Memorial Day Lineup -- everything you need for the cookout, in one place. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is the best wine for a cookout or BBQ? 

Bold, fruit-forward wines that hold up to smoky and sweet flavors and serve well chilled or over ice. Purple Toad's Black and Bruised (flagship) pairs perfectly with brisket and ribs; Tropical Sangria and Peach work for lighter fare. Skip the dry, tannic reds -- they get harsh in the heat.

Can you serve red wine cold? 

Yes -- and you should, especially fruit-based reds like Purple Toad's. Chilling reduces the perception of alcohol and brings out the fruit flavors. For Memorial Day weather, serve all Purple Toad wines chilled or over ice. There are no rules at a cookout. 

How much wine should I buy for a Memorial Day cookout? 

Plan about half a bottle per guest for a 4-hour party (or 1-2 cans per person per hour). For 12 guests, that means 6 bottles or 24 cans. For 24 guests, double it. Better to have leftovers than run out.

What is the easiest sangria recipe for a crowd? 

One bottle of Purple Toad fruit wine (Tropical Sangria or Lauren's Blackberry), 2 cups fresh fruit, 1/4 cup juice, soda water on top. Chill for 1-2 hours. That is the whole recipe -- scales easily for any group size. 

Are canned wines actually good? 

Yes. Canned wine is one of the fastest-growing categories in the wine industry, with 11% annual growth.4 Modern canning tech preserves flavor as well as bottles. Purple Toad's $4.99 canned wines (Lauren's Blackberry, Strawberry Lemonade, Black Peach) are the same wines from the bottle, just in a more convenient format. 

What is the deadline to order online for Memorial Day delivery? 

Order by mid-May (May 15-18) to guarantee delivery before May 25. Purple Toad ships to 29 states plus D.C. with free shipping over $65 at purpletoadwinery.com. After mid-May, in-store pickup at Bowling Green or Paducah is your safest bet.