Who says wine has to be enjoyed straight from the bottle? Wine cocktail recipes are a fun and creative way to enjoy wine in a whole new light! Whether you’re sipping on a refreshing wine spritzer, a fruity sangria, or a bubbly mimosa, there’s a wine-based cocktail for every occasion.
In this article, you’ll discover:
✔ Classic and creative wine cocktail recipes for red, white, and sparkling wine
✔ The best mixers and ingredients to enhance the flavors of wine
✔ Expert tips for making balanced and refreshing drinks
✔ FAQs about wine cocktails, including the best combinations and storage tips
So, grab your favorite bottle of wine and let’s dive into the world of delicious, easy-to-make wine cocktails!
Introduction to Wine Cocktails
What Are Wine Cocktails?
A wine cocktail is any drink that combines wine with other ingredients like fruit juice, spirits, or soda to create a refreshing and flavorful beverage. These drinks can be light and bubbly, fruity and bold, or smooth and sophisticated—the possibilities are endless!
Unlike traditional cocktails, which often have higher alcohol content, wine-based cocktails are usually lower in alcohol, making them perfect for brunches, afternoon gatherings, and casual sipping.
Why Are Wine Cocktails Growing in Popularity?
Wine cocktails have become increasingly popular for several reasons:
✔ Easy to make – Most wine cocktail recipes require just a few ingredients.
✔ Versatile – You can mix red, white, rosé, or sparkling wine with various flavors.
✔ Perfect for any season – Enjoy a mulled wine cocktail in winter or a frosé in summer.
✔ Great for entertaining – They’re a crowd-pleaser and make serving drinks effortless!
Types of Wine Used in Cocktails – Red, White, Sparkling & More
When making wine cocktail recipes, the type of wine you choose will affect the flavor and texture of your drink.
- Red Wine: Perfect for sangria, mulled wine, or Kalimotxo (wine and Coke).
- White Wine: Light and crisp, ideal for spritzers, Bellinis, or white sangria.
- Rosé Wine: Adds a fruity, floral touch to refreshing cocktails.
- Sparkling Wine: Used in Mimosas, French 75s, and Aperol Spritz.
Now that you know the basics, let’s explore the must-have ingredients and tools for making the best wine cocktails at home!
I couldn’t find a directly relevant internal link for wine cocktail recipes on Gustoff Recipes. However, if you’re interested in other beverage-related recipes, you might check out their lemon balm recipe benefits guide, which offers refreshing and herbal drink ideas.
Essential Ingredients & Tools for Making Wine Cocktails
What Is the Best Thing to Mix Wine With?
(PAA: “What is the best thing to mix wine with?”)
The key to a perfect wine cocktail recipe lies in finding the right mixers. While wine has a beautiful depth on its own, pairing it with complementary flavors enhances the experience. Here are some of the best ingredients to mix with wine:
✔ Fruit Juices – Orange, cranberry, pineapple, and pomegranate juices add sweetness and balance acidity.
✔ Sparkling Water & Soda – Club soda, tonic water, and Sprite make lighter, more refreshing wine cocktails.
✔ Liqueurs & Spirits – Brandy, triple sec, and rum add depth to wine-based drinks.
✔ Fresh Fruits & Herbs – Strawberries, mint, basil, and citrus slices bring aromatic complexity.
Best Liquors and Mixers for Wine Cocktails
When making wine cocktail recipes, it’s important to pair the right liquor and mixers for a balanced taste:
- Red Wine Mixers: Brandy, whiskey, cola, citrus juice, and cinnamon-infused syrups.
- White Wine Mixers: Elderflower liqueur, peach schnapps, honey, lemon-lime soda, and mint.
- Rosé & Sparkling Wine Mixers: Aperol, gin, fresh berries, and vanilla syrup.
Must-Have Bar Tools for the Perfect Wine Cocktail
Before mixing up your wine cocktail recipes, make sure you have these essential tools:
✔ Cocktail Shaker – Perfect for mixing stronger drinks with wine.
✔ Muddler – Helps extract flavors from fruits and herbs.
✔ Wine Decanter – Aerates red wine for a smoother taste.
✔ Jigger – Ensures precise measurements for a balanced cocktail.
✔ Fine Strainer – Filters out pulp and ice shards for a refined texture.
With the right ingredients and tools, you’re ready to start mixing! Next, let’s dive into some classic red wine cocktail recipes that are both easy and delicious.
Classic Red Wine Cocktail Recipes
How Do You Make a Simple Red Wine Cocktail?
(PAA: “How do you make a simple red wine cocktail?”)
A simple red wine cocktail recipe involves mixing red wine with a complementary juice or spirit, adding a sweetener (if needed), and serving over ice. Here’s a basic red wine spritzer recipe to get started:
Red Wine Spritzer Recipe
✔ 3 oz red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot)
✔ 2 oz club soda
✔ 1 oz orange juice
✔ Ice cubes
✔ Orange slice for garnish
Instructions:
- Fill a wine glass with ice.
- Pour the red wine, club soda, and orange juice over the ice.
- Stir gently and garnish with an orange slice.
Sangria – The Most Famous Red Wine Cocktail
A classic Spanish cocktail, sangria is a must-try for red wine lovers.
Traditional Sangria Recipe
✔ 1 bottle red wine
✔ ½ cup brandy
✔ ¼ cup orange liqueur (like triple sec)
✔ 2 tbsp honey or sugar
✔ 1 cup orange juice
✔ 1 sliced orange, lemon, and apple
✔ Club soda (optional)
Instructions:
- In a pitcher, combine wine, brandy, orange liqueur, and sugar. Stir until sugar dissolves.
- Add sliced fruits and let sit for at least 2 hours (overnight is best).
- Before serving, pour into glasses over ice and top with club soda for extra fizz.
Kalimotxo – The Famous Wine and Coke Drink
(PAA: “What is a wine and Coke called?”)
Kalimotxo (also spelled Calimocho) is a simple yet surprisingly delicious cocktail that mixes red wine with cola.
Kalimotxo Recipe
✔ 3 oz red wine
✔ 3 oz cola
✔ Ice cubes
✔ Lemon wedge for garnish
Instructions:
- Fill a glass with ice.
- Pour equal parts red wine and cola over the ice.
- Stir gently and garnish with a lemon wedge.
Mulled Wine – A Cozy, Spiced Winter Favorite
If you love warm, spiced drinks, mulled wine is the perfect holiday cocktail.
Mulled Wine Recipe
✔ 1 bottle red wine
✔ ½ cup brandy
✔ ¼ cup honey or sugar
✔ 1 sliced orange
✔ 3-4 whole cloves
✔ 2 cinnamon sticks
✔ 1 star anise
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Simmer (do not boil) for 15-20 minutes to let the flavors blend.
- Strain, pour into mugs, and serve warm.
Now that we’ve covered red wine cocktails, let’s explore refreshing white wine cocktails in the next section!
I couldn’t find a directly relevant internal link for wine cocktail recipes on Gustoff Recipes. However, if you’re interested in other drink-related recipes, you might enjoy their lemon balm recipe benefits guide, which explores refreshing herbal infusions.
Refreshing White Wine Cocktail Recipes
White wine is light, crisp, and perfect for refreshing wine cocktail recipes. Whether you love citrusy spritzers or fruity blends, white wine can be transformed into a delightful cocktail for any occasion.
What Is a White Wine and Sprite Called?
(PAA: “What is a white wine and Sprite called?”)
A white wine spritzer is a classic and simple drink made by mixing white wine with soda or Sprite. This cocktail is light, bubbly, and perfect for hot summer days.
White Wine Spritzer Recipe
✔ 3 oz white wine (Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio)
✔ 3 oz club soda or Sprite
✔ Ice cubes
✔ Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions:
- Fill a wine glass with ice.
- Pour equal parts white wine and soda over the ice.
- Stir gently and garnish with a lime wedge.
Bellini – A Sparkling Peach Delight
The Bellini is a well-loved Italian cocktail that combines white wine or prosecco with peach puree for a smooth, fruity drink.
Bellini Recipe
✔ 4 oz Prosecco or sparkling white wine
✔ 2 oz peach puree
✔ Fresh peach slices for garnish
Instructions:
- Pour the peach puree into a champagne flute.
- Slowly top with chilled Prosecco and gently stir.
- Garnish with a fresh peach slice and serve immediately.
French 75 – A Sophisticated Champagne Cocktail
The French 75 is a timeless cocktail that blends sparkling wine with gin and citrus for a refreshing yet sophisticated drink.
French 75 Recipe
✔ 2 oz Champagne or dry white wine
✔ 1 oz gin
✔ ½ oz lemon juice
✔ ½ oz simple syrup
✔ Lemon twist for garnish
Instructions:
- Shake gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup with ice in a cocktail shaker.
- Strain into a champagne flute.
- Top with chilled Champagne and garnish with a lemon twist.
With these refreshing white wine cocktail recipes, you’ll always have a light and bubbly drink ready to impress! Up next, let’s explore fun sparkling and rosé wine cocktails.
Sparkling & Rosé Wine Cocktails
Rosé and sparkling wines make some of the best wine cocktail recipes because of their vibrant flavors and effervescence. Here are a few must-try options!
Mimosa – The Brunch Staple
A Mimosa is one of the easiest sparkling wine cocktails and a brunch favorite.
Mimosa Recipe
✔ 4 oz Champagne or sparkling wine
✔ 2 oz fresh orange juice
✔ Orange slice for garnish
Instructions:
- Pour chilled orange juice into a champagne flute.
- Slowly top with sparkling wine.
- Garnish with an orange slice.
Frosé – A Frozen Rosé Delight
Frosé is a slushy cocktail made from frozen rosé wine, perfect for summer parties.
Frosé Recipe
✔ 1 bottle rosé wine
✔ ½ cup strawberries
✔ 2 tbsp honey
✔ 1 oz lemon juice
Instructions:
- Pour rosé into a baking dish and freeze for 6 hours until slushy.
- Blend frozen rosé with strawberries, honey, and lemon juice until smooth.
- Serve immediately in chilled glasses.
Aperol Spritz – The Italian Summer Favorite
The Aperol Spritz is a refreshing, bittersweet cocktail made with Aperol, prosecco, and soda water.
Aperol Spritz Recipe
✔ 3 oz Prosecco
✔ 2 oz Aperol
✔ 1 oz soda water
✔ Orange slice for garnish
Instructions:
- Fill a wine glass with ice.
- Pour Aperol, Prosecco, and soda water over the ice.
- Stir gently and garnish with an orange slice.
With these bubbly and rosé wine cocktail recipes, you’ll always have the perfect refreshing drink for any celebration! Next, let’s look at creative and unique wine cocktails that break the traditional rules.
Unique & Creative Wine Cocktails
Looking for wine cocktail recipes that break the traditional rules? These creative concoctions add an unexpected twist to classic wine-based drinks. Whether you’re craving something tropical, minty, or citrusy, these unique cocktails will impress your guests!
Wine Margaritas – A Fun Twist on a Classic
Who says margaritas have to be made with tequila? Adding white wine creates a smoother, fruitier version of this classic cocktail.
White Wine Margarita Recipe
✔ 4 oz dry white wine (Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio)
✔ 2 oz tequila
✔ 1 oz triple sec
✔ 1 oz lime juice
✔ Salt for rimming the glass
✔ Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions:
- Rim a glass with salt and fill it with ice.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine wine, tequila, triple sec, and lime juice.
- Shake well and strain into the glass.
- Garnish with a lime wedge and enjoy!
Port & Tonic – A Low-ABV Cocktail with a Kick
A Port & Tonic is a refreshing, low-alcohol alternative to gin and tonic. The sweetness of port balances perfectly with the bitterness of tonic water.
Port & Tonic Recipe
✔ 3 oz white port wine
✔ 3 oz tonic water
✔ Ice cubes
✔ Orange slice for garnish
Instructions:
- Fill a glass with ice.
- Pour port wine and tonic water over the ice.
- Stir gently and garnish with an orange slice.
Wine Mojito – A Refreshing Mint & Lime Combo
A wine-based mojito swaps rum for crisp white wine, making it lighter and easier to sip.
Wine Mojito Recipe
✔ 4 oz white wine (Sauvignon Blanc or Albariño)
✔ 1 oz lime juice
✔ 1 tbsp sugar or honey
✔ 5 fresh mint leaves
✔ 2 oz soda water
✔ Lime wheel and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions:
- Muddle mint leaves, lime juice, and sugar in a glass.
- Fill the glass with ice and add white wine.
- Top with soda water, stir gently, and garnish with a lime wheel.
With these fun and unique wine cocktail recipes, you’ll never run out of ways to enjoy your favorite bottle of wine! Up next, let’s explore the best food pairings for wine cocktails.
Tips for Pairing Wine Cocktails with Food
Pairing wine cocktail recipes with the right food enhances both the drink and the dish. Here are some expert tips for creating perfect pairings for any occasion.
Best Appetizers to Serve with Wine Cocktails
The right appetizer can bring out the flavors in your cocktail. Here are a few great matches:
✔ Sangria + Tapas – Olives, cheeses, and Spanish chorizo complement the bold flavors of red wine.
✔ Mimosa + Brunch Classics – Pair with eggs benedict, smoked salmon, or fruit salads.
✔ Aperol Spritz + Antipasti – Salty prosciutto, burrata, and marinated olives balance the bittersweet notes.
✔ Wine Mojito + Seafood – Fresh shrimp, ceviche, or grilled fish enhance the citrus and mint flavors.
Wine Cocktails for Different Occasions
Not all wine cocktail recipes fit every occasion. Here’s how to choose the best drink:
✔ Brunch & Daytime Gatherings: Mimosas, Bellinis, and wine spritzers keep things light.
✔ Dinner Parties: Sangria, mulled wine, or wine margaritas pair well with hearty dishes.
✔ Summer BBQs: A chilled frosé or white wine margarita is the perfect way to cool down.
✔ Romantic Evenings: A French 75 or Port & Tonic adds a touch of sophistication.
By matching your wine cocktail recipes with the right food, you’ll create a flavorful experience that leaves everyone satisfied.
Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
Even the best wine cocktail recipes can go wrong if you don’t balance the flavors correctly. Here are some common mistakes and how to fix them.
Overpowering the Wine – Keeping a Balanced Mix
One of the biggest mistakes when making wine cocktail recipes is using too much mixer or sweetener, which can drown out the wine’s natural flavors. Instead:
✔ Choose the right wine – Light wines pair well with fruity mixers, while bold wines work best with spices or citrus.
✔ Use natural sweeteners – Honey, agave, or fresh fruit juice keep cocktails balanced without artificial sweetness.
✔ Don’t over-dilute – If adding soda or tonic water, keep a 2:1 wine-to-mixer ratio for the best taste.
Choosing the Right Glassware for Wine Cocktails
Just like traditional wine, wine cocktails taste better in the right glass:
✔ Tall glasses – Great for spritzers, mojitos, and frosé to enhance aromas.
✔ Flute glasses – Perfect for Mimosas, Bellinis, and French 75 to keep the bubbles crisp.
✔ Stemless wine glasses – Best for sangria and Kalimotxo, giving them space to breathe.
Avoiding these mistakes ensures that your wine cocktail recipes taste just as good as they look! Up next, let’s answer some frequently asked questions about wine cocktails.
FAQs About Wine Cocktails
What Is a Wine and Coke Called?
(PAA: “What is a wine and Coke called?”)
A wine and Coke cocktail is called Kalimotxo (Calimocho). Originating in Spain, this simple yet surprisingly delicious drink is made by mixing equal parts red wine and cola over ice. The result? A sweet, refreshing beverage with a slight fizziness.
How to Make Kalimotxo:
✔ 3 oz red wine (Tempranillo or Cabernet Sauvignon)
✔ 3 oz Coca-Cola
✔ Ice cubes
✔ Lemon wedge for garnish
Instructions:
- Fill a tall glass with ice.
- Pour equal parts red wine and Coke over the ice.
- Stir gently and garnish with a lemon wedge.
What Are the Easiest Wine Cocktails to Make?
If you’re short on time, try these quick and simple wine cocktails:
✔ Mimosa: Sparkling wine + orange juice
✔ White Wine Spritzer: White wine + club soda
✔ Sangria: Red wine + orange juice + sliced fruit
Can You Mix Wine with Soda or Juice?
Absolutely! Sparkling water, lemonade, cranberry juice, and even Coca-Cola can add a unique twist to wine cocktail recipes.
Now that you know everything about wine cocktails, it’s time to grab your favorite bottle and start mixing! Cheers! 🍷🍹