Wine cocktails, such as spritzers or sangrias, can be a delightful choice, especially for hot summer nights or special occasions. Wine can serve as a versatile base for cocktails that offer a lighter alternative to some stronger cocktails or spirits, making them enjoyable for those who prefer a milder drink.
Wine can be paired with various ingredients and flavors to create a wide range of refreshing and unique cocktails. By combining wine with other ingredients like fruits, spirits, or mixers, you can create a well-balanced cocktail that combines the flavors of the wine with complementary elements.
In this review, we created a list of some of the best wine cocktails to try, including wine drinks for summer, brunch, festive events, and more.
And Now – The Best 10 Wine Cocktails!
Mimoza
The Mimosa is a classic brunch wine cocktail that combines orange juice and champagne. It is light, refreshing, and easy to mix, making it perfect for celebratory occasions or weekend brunches with friends.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces of orange juice
- 4 ounces of champagne or sparkling wine
Instructions:
- Pour the orange juice into a champagne flute.
- Top it off with chilled champagne or sparkling wine.
- Stir gently and serve.
White Wine Mojito
The White Wine Mojito is a delightful twist on the classic Mojito cocktail that replaces the traditional rum with white wine. It offers a refreshing and lighter alternative to the traditional rum-based Mojito. It combines the crispness of white wine with the vibrant flavors of mint, lime, and soda water. The cocktail is perfect for those who enjoy a milder, wine-infused version of the famous Mojito.
Ingredients:
- 6 fresh mint leaves
- 1-ounce fresh lime juice
- 1-ounce simple syrup (adjust to taste)
- 4 ounces white wine (such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio)
- Soda water or club soda
- Ice cubes
Instructions:
- In a glass, muddle the fresh mint leaves with lime juice and simple syrup. This helps release the mint’s flavors.
- Fill the glass with ice cubes.
- Pour the white wine over the ice and stir gently.
- Top it off with soda water or club soda.
- Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.
- Stir gently once more to combine the ingredients.
- Serve and enjoy your refreshing White Wine Mojito!
Red Wine Fruit Sangria
Sangria is a fruity and flavorful wine cocktail that typically uses red wine as its base. It is often made in large batches, making it great for parties and gatherings. Sangria is known for its vibrant colors, an assortment of fresh fruits, and the addition of brandy and orange liqueur for extra depth of flavor.
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle of red wine (such as Merlot or Rioja)
- 1/4 cup brandy
- 1/4 cup orange liqueur (such as Cointreau or Triple Sec)
- 2 tablespoons sugar (adjust to taste)
- Assorted fresh fruits (such as oranges, lemons, apples, and fresh berries)
- 1 cup orange juice or lemon juice
- 1 cup club soda
Instructions:
- In a pitcher, combine the red wine, brandy, orange liqueur, and sugar.
- Stir until the sugar dissolves.
- Add fresh fruits and orange juice.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld.
- Before serving, add club soda and stir gently.
- Serve over ice.
Bellini
The Bellini is a cocktail originating from Italy and is made with peach puree and prosecco. It has a delicate and fruity flavor and is often served during brunches, weddings, or other celebratory events.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces peach puree (or peach nectar)
- 4 ounces prosecco or sparkling wine
Instructions:
- Pour the peach puree into a champagne flute.
- Top it off with chilled prosecco or sparkling wine.
- Stir gently and serve.
Aperol Spritz
Originating from Italy, the Aperol Spritz is a light and bittersweet classic cocktail made with Aperol, prosecco, and soda water. It has a vibrant orange color and is often enjoyed as an aperitif or during summer gatherings.
Ingredients:
- 3 ounces Prosecco or sparkling wine
- 2 ounces Aperol
- 1-ounce soda water
- Orange slice (for garnish)
Instructions:
- Fill a wine glass with ice cubes.
- Add Prosecco and Aperol.
- Top it off with soda water.
- Stir gently and garnish with an orange slice.
Summer Wine Spritzers
This cocktail is a simple and refreshing mixture of white wine and sparkling water or club soda. It is light, crisp, and perfect for hot summer days. It can be customized with the addition of fresh citrus juice or slices to enhance the flavor.
Ingredients:
- 4 ounces white wine (such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio)
- 1-ounce sparkling water or club soda
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup (optional)
- Fresh fruit slices (such as lemon, lime, or orange) for garnish
- Ice cubes
Instructions:
- Fill a glass with ice cubes.
- Add the white wine to the glass.
- If desired, add the simple syrup to sweeten the cocktail. You can adjust the amount based on your preference for sweetness.
- Top it off with sparkling water or club soda.
- Stir gently to combine the ingredients.
- Garnish with fresh fruit slices, such as lemon, lime, or orange.
- Enjoy your refreshing wine spritzer!
Tropical White Wine Sangria:
This cocktail combines the refreshing qualities of white wine with the vibrant and tropical fruit flavors of pineapple, mango, kiwi, and passion fruit.
The addition of rum and peach schnapps or orange liqueur adds depth to the cocktail, but you can omit them if you prefer a non-alcoholic version. The Tropical White Wine Sangria is perfect for summer parties, beach gatherings, or whenever you want to transport yourself to a tropical paradise with each sip.
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle of white wine (such as Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay)
- 1/4 cup rum (optional)
- 1/4 cup peach schnapps or orange liqueur (such as Cointreau)
- 2 tablespoons sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1 cup orange juice
- Assorted tropical chopped fruits (such as pineapple chunks, mango slices, kiwi slices, and passion fruit)
- Fresh mint leaves for garnish (optional)
- Ice cubes
Instructions:
- In a large pitcher, combine the white wine, rum (if using), peach schnapps or orange flavor liqueur, sugar, pineapple juice, and orange juice. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
- Add the tropical fruits to the pitcher and gently stir to combine.
- Place the pitcher in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to meld.
- Before serving, give the sangria a gentle stir.
- Fill glasses with ice cubes and pour the tropical sangria into the glasses, ensuring each glass receives an ample amount of fruit.
- If desired, garnish with fresh mint leaves.
- Serve and enjoy your tropical white wine sangria!
Sparkling Wine Kir Royale
The Kir Royale is an elegant and sophisticated cocktail made by combining champagne with crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur). It has a slightly sweet and fruity taste and is commonly enjoyed as an aperitif or during special occasions.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 ounce crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur)
- 4 ounces of champagne or other good sparkling wine
Instructions:
- Pour the crème de cassis into a champagne flute.
- Top it off with chilled champagne or sparkling wine.
- Stir gently and serve.
Frozen Strawberry Rosé Slush
This cocktail is perfect for warm summer days or as a delightful treat during gatherings. The frozen strawberries not only add a burst of fruity flavor but also help create a refreshing slushy texture. The rosé wine complements the strawberries with its crisp and floral notes. You can adjust the sweetness to your liking by adding more or less honey or simple syrup.
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle of rosé wine (dry or semi-sweet)
- 2 cups frozen strawberries
- 2 tablespoons honey, maple syrup, or simple syrup (adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Fresh strawberries for garnish (optional)
- Ice cubes (optional, if desired for a thicker slush consistency)
Instructions:
- In a blender, combine the rosé wine, frozen strawberries, honey or simple syrup, and fresh lemon juice.
- Blend until smooth and well combined. If you prefer a thicker slush consistency, you can add a handful of ice cubes and blend again.
- Taste the mixture and adjust the sweetness by adding more honey or simple syrup if desired.
- Once the slush has reached your desired consistency and taste, pour it into serving glasses.
- Optionally, garnish with fresh strawberries.
- Serve immediately and enjoy your refreshing Frozen Strawberry Rosé Slush!
Winter Warmer Red Wine Cocktail
The Winter Warmer cocktail combines the rich and complex flavors of fortified wine, the warmth of bourbon whiskey, the sweetness of honey, and the brightness of fresh lemon juice.
It’s a comforting and robust drink, perfect for enjoying by the fireplace or during winter gatherings. The aromatic bitters add depth and complexity to the cocktail.
Ingredients:
- 2-ounces fortified wine (such as sweet vermouth or port)
- 1-ounce bourbon whiskey
- 1/2 ounce honey syrup (equal parts honey and hot water, stirred until dissolved)
- 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 1 dash of aromatic bitters
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions:
- Fill a mixing glass or shaker with ice.
- Add the fortified wine, bourbon, honey syrup, fresh lemon juice, and aromatic bitters.
- Stir gently until well combined and chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Express the oils from an orange peel over the glass and drop it into the drink as garnish.
- Sip and savor your cozy Winter Warmer cocktail!
Last Editor Notes
As you can see, there are many options to enjoy wine cocktails! Wine cocktails offer a wide range of possibilities for experimentation and creativity.
Ultimately, whether a wine cocktail is delightful depends on personal taste preferences. Some people may enjoy the combination of wine with other flavors, while others might prefer wine on its own.
Feel free to explore different wine varietals, spirits, mixers, and fruits to create your own unique concoctions. Have fun, get creative, and enjoy the process of crafting and savoring your favorite wine cocktails. Cheers!