Wine, with its rich and varied flavors, is perfect for more than just sipping. You can mix it with fruits, herbs, and spirits, to create delightful and refreshing drinks. In this article, we present the best wine cocktails, offering simple and sophisticated recipes that will elevate your drinking experience. So, grab your favorite bottle and join us in exploring the exciting world of 17 best wine cocktail recipes.
New York Sour
The first wine cocktail on our list is the New York Sour. This is a classic cocktail that combines whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup, and a float of red wine on top. It is similar to a whiskey sour, but the addition of the red wine gives it a unique flavor profile and striking visual appearance. It is relatively simple to make but looks and tastes impressive.
Sangria
Speaking of the best wine cocktails, sangria is the one that you cannot miss. This alcoholic beverage originates in Spain and Portugal, typically made with red wine and chopped fruit. It is a punch that can be served cold or chilled.
There are 2 types of sangria. The red sangria is made with red wine and fruits like berries, melon, blackberry, pears, and peaches, like the Blackberry Sangria. On the other hand, the white sangria uses white wine and additional ingredients like sparkling water or flavored liqueurs. Some of them are White Peach Sangria or Pina Colada Sangria.
Mulled Wine
Mulled Wine is one of the most popular red wine cocktail recipes in the world. It’s a traditional warm, spiced alcoholic drink that is popular during the winter holidays, especially around Christmas. It is usually made with red wine, along with various mulling spices and sometimes raisins or other fruits.
Kalimotxo (Calimocho)
The kalimotxo (also spelled calimocho) is a popular Spanish cocktail consisting of equal parts red wine and cola, typically served over ice. This wine cocktail is known for its simple, refreshing flavor profile – the sweetness of the cola balances the acidity of the red wine. It is considered an affordable and low-alcohol cocktail option.
Some modern variations on the kalimotxo include adding bitters, using sparkling wine instead of still, or freezing the mixture into a slushie-like format.
Black Velvet
The next one is Black Velvet. This drink is a classic cocktail that combines Guinness stout and Champagne or sparkling wine. Some variations use cider instead of champagne, which makes them referred to as a “poor man’s black velvet”.
Spritzer
The next one is spritzer – a type of drink typically made with white wine and carbonated water or sparkling mineral water. It can also be made with fermented simple syrup to keep it sweet and flavor-neutral. The term “spritzer” is derived from the German language, where it is very popular, especially in Austria.
Spritzer can be non-alcoholic. It can be made with soda water or sparkling mineral water, and is often used as a refreshing drink. If you’re interested in this wine cocktail, here is Pomegranate Spritzer recipe.
Spritz
Spritz and spritzer are often mistaken for each other. However, they are 2 different types of wine cocktails. While the spritzer is simply a mix of wine and sparkling water, a spritz is made with prosecco (or other sparkling wine), a bitter liqueur like Aperol or Campari, and a splash of soda water. Here are some famous types of spritz you might want to try: Sugarplum Spritz, Lemoncello Spritz, or Cappelletti Spritz.
Frosé (Frozen Rosé)
As the name suggests, this drink is a frozen cocktail. It’s made by blending rosé wine, strawberries, and simple syrup. This slushy drink is the ideal drink for hot days, offering a balance of sweetness and acidity with a lovely pink hue.
French 75
The French 75 is a classic cocktail made from gin, champagne, lemon juice, and sugar. The French 75 is considered an elegant, refreshing, and citrusy cocktail that packs a punch from the champagne. The drink is a popular choice for celebrations and brunch. While the standard recipe calls for gin, some variations use cognac instead.
Kir
The Kir is a classic French wine cocktail made with a measure of crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur) topped up with white wine. The wine cocktail is usually served as an apéritif before a meal. The drink was originally made with Bourgogne Aligoté, a white wine from Burgundy, but today you can use other white wine types.
Kir Royale
The Kir royal is a French cocktail that is a variation of the traditional Kir above. It consists of a sweet blackcurrant liqueur topped with champagne, rather than the white wine used in a regular Kir. This alcoholic beverage is typically served in a champagne flute and is considered a more expensive and festive version of the Kir cocktail.
Negroni Sbagliato
The Negroni Sbagliato is a variation of the classic Negroni cocktail that uses sparkling wine instead of gin. To make this drink, combine equal parts Campari, sweet vermouth, and prosecco or other sparkling wine. It’s stirred with ice and garnished with an orange peel. The drink has a bright ruby color and a sweet-bitter flavor from the Campari and vermouth.
Mimosa
It’s such a mistake if you do not include mimosa on the list. This drink is a classic cocktail consisting of equal parts chilled sparkling wine (such as champagne, cava, or prosecco) and orange juice. You can find this wine cocktail at weddings and other festive occasions.
There are many variations on the classic mimosa, including using different juices like cranberry, grapefruit, pineapple, or pomegranate. Non-alcoholic “mocktail” versions can be made by substituting the sparkling wine with sparkling water or juice. Here is how to make the romantic Strawberry Shortcake Mimosa.
Bellini
The next one which is also one of my favorite cocktails is Bellini. It is a classic Italian cocktail made with just two ingredients: Prosecco sparkling wine and white peach purée. However, some recipes also include a splash of peach juice or peach schnapps for extra peachy flavor. Here’s how to make the Bellini at home.
Hugo Cocktail
The Hugo is an alcoholic aperitif cocktail that originated in South Tyrol, Italy, but has become popular throughout many countries like Austria, Switzerland, and Germany. The wine cocktail is made with prosecco, elderflower syrup (or lemon balm syrup), seltzer or sparkling water, and fresh mint leaves.
Some recipes also call for the addition of a small amount of gin, which helps to balance the sweetness of the drink. Lemon balm syrup can be used instead of elderflower syrup.
Devil’s Margarita
The Devil’s Margarita is a fun and unique twist on the classic margarita cocktail. This cocktail combines blanco tequila, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup, just like a traditional margarita. However, it adds a float of red wine on top, which gives the drink a distinctive layered appearance and adds a fruity, acidic note. The red wine float is meant to give the drink a “devilish” or spooky vibe, making it a great Halloween cocktail.
Sherry Flip
Last but not least – the Sherry Flip. This wine cocktail is a version of the Flip cocktail. It combines just 3 ingredients: the rich, nutty flavors of sherry with the creamy texture of a whole egg and the sweetness of sugar. It’s a classic example of the “flip” style of cocktail, which combines a spirit or fortified wine with egg and sugar.
