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Wine cocktails have become very popular in recent years. The wine provides a fruity base while other liquids like juice or soda add sweetness and bubbles. Popular wine cocktails include sangria, aperol spritz, french martini, and many more. Some wine cocktails also use herbs, spices, or syrups to complement the wine's flavour.
Certain spirits complement the flavour profiles of different wine varieties. For light, crisp white wines like Sauvignon Blanc, spirits like gin or vodka make excellent partners. For Chardonnays, spirits like cognac or rum pair better. The spice and vanilla of bourbon goes well with Cabernet Sauvignon, and for reds like Shiraz or Zinfandel, brandy's fruit-forward taste provides pleasant contrast to the jammy red fruit notes. Even tequila's complements Pinot Noir's delicate cherry and spice.
Here are 6 wine cocktails you should add to your menu for your next weekend party
Kir Cocktail
The kir is a simple cocktail made by mixing crème de cassis, with crisp dry white wine. Kir cocktails are easy to mix up in batches, making them ideal for serving at any kind of parties.
Ingredients
- 23 ml crème de cassis liqueur
- 200 ml dry white wine, chilled
Image credit: Freepik
Method
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Select a suitable wine glass. A tulip-shaped wine glass or white wine glass works well for a Kir cocktail.
- Pour 15ml of crème de cassis into the bottom of the wine glass.
- Slowly pour 150-180ml of the chilled dry white wine into the glass. Tilt the glass slightly and pour the wine gently down the side to allow it to gradually mix with the crème de cassis at the bottom.
- Garnish with a slice of lemon or orange before serving.
Wine Spritzer
A wine spritzer is an easy and refreshing drink made by mixing wine with sparkling water or soda water. Spritzers are great for summertime events like weekend get-togethers or backyard barbecues.
Ingredients
- 120 ml of chilled white or rosé wine
- 60 ml of club soda
- Chilled glass filled with ice
- Fruit for garnish
Image credit: Freepik
Method
- First, fill a tall glass with ice cubes to chill it.
- Next, carefully pour 3 parts chilled white or rosé wine over the ice, filling the glass about halfway.
- Then top it off with 1-part chilled club soda.
- Finally, garnish your wine spritzer with a colourful slice of lemon, lime, orange, or strawberry hooked on the rim.
Mimosa
The mimosa is a beloved drink that many people enjoy. The most popular type of wine used for this refreshing cocktail is an extra dry, bubbly white Cava. With just a few simple ingredients - chilled sparkling wine and fresh orange juice - the mimosa is quick and easy to mix up.
Ingredients
- 90 ml of chilled sparkling white wine
- 90 ml of pulp free orange juice
- Orange slice for garnish
Image credit: Freepik
Method
- To make a delicious mimosa cocktail, start by grabbing a clean champagne flute.
- Carefully pour chilled sparkling wine into the glass until it is about two-thirds full.
- Next, slowly top it off with fresh-squeezed orange juice until the flute is nearly full.
- To garnish, slice a thin wheel of orange and place it on the rim of the glass so it gently hangs over the edge.
The Bishop Cocktail
The bishop is a classic cocktail dating back to the early 1900s. It was originally published in 1935 in the famous bartending guide "The Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book" by A.S. Crockett. The bishop stands out from modern cocktails because of its unique blend of fruit juices like orange and lemon with liquor including gin and wine.
Ingredients
- 90 ml rum
- 30 ml red wine
- 1 teaspoon simple syrup
- 1/2 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
Image credit: Freepik
Method
- Gather all the necessary ingredients for the cocktail you want to make.
- Fill a cocktail shaker about halfway with ice cubes.
- Pour the liquid ingredients into the ice-filled cocktail shaker.
- Seal the cocktail shaker and shake it vigorously for 10-15 seconds.
- Strain the cocktail through a strainer into a chilled wine glass.
White Wine Mojito
If you enjoy the refreshing taste of a classic mojito cocktail made with white rum, lime juice, sparkling water, sugar, and mint, consider trying this tasty twist. Instead of rum, use a crisp, white wine that you love.
Ingredients
- 1 (750-milliliter) bottle white wine
- 2 cups Italian sparkling lemonade
- 2 limes, juiced
- 1 cup fresh mint
- Sugar, to taste, depending on the sweetness of the lemonade
- 1 lime, for garnish
Image credit: Freepik
Method
- Place a bottle of chilled white wine and a bottle of lemonade in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours so they are ice cold.
- Once properly chilled, pour the white wine and lemonade together into a large glass pitcher.
- Next, cut 2 fresh limes in half and squeeze their juice directly into the pitcher.
- Then, grab a bunch of fresh mint, around 3/4 cups worth. Finely mince the mint leaves into tiny pieces and add them to the pitcher.
- Stir in a teaspoon or two of sugar until it dissolves.
- Finally, garnish the drink by thinly slicing the remaining lime into rounds and placing a slice on the rim of each glass before pouring in the cocktail. Top it off with a mint sprig.
Also read: Wine Wisdom: Uncorking The Secrets of The Wine World
Kalimotxo
Though it may seem like an unlikely pairing, mixing red wine with cola creates a delicious and refreshing cocktail known as a Kalimotxo. This unique beverage originated in the Basque Country of northern Spain, where local legend claims that teenagers first concocted it as a way to improve the taste of their low-quality wine.
Ingredients
- 120 ml of red wine
- 120 ml of cola
- Lemon slice for garnish
Image credit: Freepik
Method
- First, get a tall glass tumbler and fill it halfway with ice cubes.
- Next, pour in an equal amount of red wine and cola soda. Gently stir the wine and cola together, mixing them.
- Once mixed, use a strainer to transfer the wine and cola mixture into a chilled wine glass.
- Finally, cut a thin lemon slice and place it on the rim of the glass as a garnish.
