Classic Wine Cocktails
From Sangria to mimosas, classic wine cocktails make great party starters. And why not? Wines like Cabernet Sauvignon can impart their deep cherry smokiness in a mixed drink. Champagnes can bring their creaminess and toasted bread aromas to classic wine cocktails like the mimosa. And that doesn’t even begin to cover the wide range of varietal wines you can use as your cocktail’s base. If you’re planning a party and need some recipes for wine cocktails, I’ve got you covered. The following recipes count as some of my go-to recipes when it’s time to get the party started.
Simple Champagne Cocktail
Here’s some trivia for you.
What’s the difference between Champagne and sparkling wine?
If you said that Champagne is a sparkling wine that comes from Champagne, France, you’d be right. The name we universally use for sparkling wine, Champagne, is called that because of the region where it’s made. If the drink is not made in Champagne, then it’s just sparkling wine. The traditional method of Champagne, a second fermentation in the bottle, is used in other regions and it typically the best quality bubbly.
Got it? Good.
If you’re fortunate enough to have Champagne - that’s a real celebration, right? - then use that as your base. Otherwise, sparkling wins like Prosseco from Franc or Cava from Spain are great options. There are also some great sparkling wines made in the US.
Here’s how you make this simple sparkling classic wine cocktail.
Ingredients:
- 5 oz. Champagne or sparkling wine
- 1 sugar cube
- A dash of bitters
- Champagne flute
Instructions:
- Drop the sugar cube into the glass.
- Add drops of bitters to the sugar cube.
- Slowly, pour champagne into the glass and then serve. It’s not necessary to stir this drink.
I got the idea for this cocktail drink from All Recipes. Unlike the mimosa cocktail, no fruit juice is required. The sugar sweetens it and the bitters add a bit of a nip to the drink without overpowering it.
Epicurious recommends garnishing this cocktail with an orange or lemon twist.
Sunday Morning Mimosas
The mimosa is very often the Champagne cocktail that people think of when you say “Champagne cocktail.” This drink is a favorite among the Sunday morning brunch crowd. For this recipe, Inspired Taste recommends using fresh-squeezed OJ. However, you can also use store-bought juice if time is an issue.
Mimosas are actually very easy to make. They’re equal parts juice and Champagne. As with the drink recipe above, you can use sparkling wine. If you opt for very sweet juice, you may want to balance the flavor of the cocktail out by choosing a dry sparkling wine.
Additionally, while the traditional mimosa is made with orange juice, it’s perfectly fine to experiment with some of the orange juice blends like orange juice and banana or OJ and pineapple to add a bit of pizzazz to your cocktails.
Here’s how you make this brunch treat.
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle of chilled sparkling wine (about 750 ml)
- 3 c. or 750 ml of chilled OJ
- Optional: Triple sec or Grand Marnier
Instructions
- Fill your champagne flutes with the wine first.
- Next, pour in an equal amount of OJ.
- Finish the drink off by adding a splash of orange-flavored liqueur like triple sec or Grand Marnier.
Diablo’s Blood
Here in the U.S., it might seem a bit weird to mix wine of any kind with sodas or colas. But in Germany…? It’s a thing. When I first tried this type of concoction, I was sure that I wouldn’t like it, but lo and behold, I did. White wine and 7Up or Sprite is big, but so is this red wine cocktail.
True enough, the Germans don’t call this Diablo’s Blood. (I don’t think…) I got that name care of Drink Mixer. That site just calls for red wine, and if you’re not picky, then use your favorite. When I make it, I like to make it with a bit of Cabernet. The blend of the wine’s fruit and oak flavor mixes nicely with the cola. For a sweeter drink, choose Coke. For one not as sweet, Pepsi will do.
Here’s what you need to make this yummy red wine cocktail. For each serving, you’ll need:
Ingredients:
- 50 ml Cold red wine
- 50 ml Coca-Cola or Pepsi
Instructions:
Pour the ingredients together and mix well. It tastes best cold.
Classic Sangria
That a classic sangria recipe should go on this list, well, goes without saying. This red wine cocktail is a favorite among the BBQ crowd during the summer. It’s fruity and sweet and oh so refreshing.
Here’s what you need to get started with this one.
Ingredients:
- Slice up 1 lemon, 1 lime, and 1 orange
- 1 1/2 c. rum
- 1/2 c. white sugar
- 1 bottle of dry red wine of your choice
- 1 c. OJ
Instructions:
- Chill the fruit, OJ, and wine.
- Slice up the fruit, and then add the fruit to your serving Pitcher.
- Add in the rum. Allow the sangria to chill in the fridge for two or three hours before serving. This allows the flavors to fully blend and develop.
- Lightly crush the fruit with a wooden spoon when you’re ready to serve the sangria. Stir the mixture up to ensure that the flavors are well blended.
I have All Recipes to thank for the inspiration for this classic wine cocktail.
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