Definition of the word wine cooler

The term "wine cooler" as it applies to a specific type of beverage can be traced back to the late 1960s and early 1970s. During this time, a new trend emerged in the wine industry as marketers sought to appeal to a younger and less experienced wine-drinking audience. The solution was to create a beverage that combined wine with fruit juices and other sweeteners in order to mask the strong taste of the wine. At first, these concoctions were simply referred to as "white wine coolers" or "cherry wine coolers." However, as they gained popularity, they began to be marketed under their own brand names, such as "Boone's Farm" and "Carl Jung." These brands helped to popularize the term "wine cooler" as a catchall phrase for these fruit-flavored libations. The name "wine cooler" itself is somewhat misleading as the drinks were not necessarily served cold, and in fact, were often served at room temperature. Nevertheless, the term caught on, and it is now commonly used to describe this type of alcoholic beverage, even as the popularity of more traditional wines has increased in recent years.