Cocktail hour is about more than mixing the perfect drink; it’s the time when you can let go of your worries and unwind. Experiment with flavors and ingredients, then relax with your creation. Instead of reaching for classics like whisky or gin, bring your drink to life with wine as the alcoholic base.
Whether you are looking for a breezy summer cocktail, or a warm mulled brew for winter, wine cocktails offer a fresh way to taste the flavor and appreciate complex aromas from your favorite varietal. Here are seven delicious cocktail recipes to enjoy or simply choose from one of our cocktail infusion kits.
Summer Spice
4 oz red wine (such as Chilean cabernet sauvignon)
1 oz lime juice
1 oz seltzer
1 oz maple syrup
1 slice jalapeno
1 slice watermelon
- Combine the wine, lime juice, seltzer and maple syrup in a shaker
- Add the jalapeno and watermelon
- Muddle the ingredients to blend it thoroughly
- Strain the juice into a wine glass (optional: rim with maple sugar)
- Add ice and garnish with thin slices of jalapeno
- You can freeze this cocktail up to an hour before pouring, to enrich the taste
Sizzling Ginger Lime
16 oz white wine or rosé (such as Australian chardonnay)
2 oz lime juice
2 oz simple syrup*
1-inch fresh peeled ginger
Mint leaves (for garnishing)
- Add wine, lime juice, simple syrup to a shaker
- Add ginger to the shaker and muddle it
- Fill the shaker with ice and vigorously shake it
- Strain the juice into a large wine glass
- Garnish with mint leaves (optional: add additional ice)
Frozen Rose Spritz
12 oz Pinot Noir
1 1/4 oz lime juice
2 oz simple syrup* (more if prefer sweet drinks)
8 strawberry slices
8 rose petals (freeze before using)
- Add strawberry slices to the simple syrup and let them infuse for 30 minutes
- Add the strawberries, lime juice, syrup and frozen rose petals to a shaker
- Briefly muddle the ingredients
- Add the wine, some ice cubes, and shake well
- Strain into glasses
- Garnish with fresh strawberries (optional: add crushed ice)
Mango Blend
1 bottle white wine (such as sauvignon blanc, gewurztraminer or verdicchio)
2 cups of mango (cubed)
2 – 3 cubes of ice
1 tablespoon of maple syrup or honey
- Add wine, mango and ice to a blender
- You can add more ice to the blender if you want a thicker smoothie
- Add syrup according to your taste preferences
- Garnish with squeezed mango pulp on the glass
Sparkling Strawberries
1 bottle Prosecco
1 TB simple syrup*
1 1/2 cup chopped or sliced strawberries
3 lemon slices
Ice cubes
- Add the strawberries, lemon slices, and simple syrup to shaker
- Mash thoroughly with a muddler, then add some ice cubes and shake to unleash flavor
- Add 1 oz of the strained shaker mixture to a flute, then fill with Prosecco
- Optional: Add lemon zest or strawberry slice for burst of flavor
- Best if all ingredients have chilled for an hour
Love of Chocolate
12 oz cabernet sauvignon
1 cup milk
½ cup coconut dark chocolate chunks (approximately 1 bar)
Whipped cream
- Add dark chocolate to milk and boil, melting the chocolate
- Wait for the mixture to fully cool
- Add chocolate syrup and wine to a shaker
- Shake the ingredients well until thick and frothy
- Pour into glasses and add a dollop of whipped cream to the top
- Optional: Garnish with raspberry and mint
Citrus Garden Sangria
1 bottle grenache wine or rosé
2 oz simple syrup*
Small sprigs of: Thyme, mint and rosemary leaves
2 lime slices
2 orange slices
4-star anise pods
- In a large pitcher, add the thyme, rosemary, mint, lime slices, orange slices and star anise; then pour in grenache wine
- Chill for 4 hours to infuse the wine
- Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large ice-filled pitcher
- Add simple syrup, mix thoroughly
- Garnish glasses with mint leaves
- Optional: add additional ice to wine glasses
If you are dreaming of a tranquil summer, these cocktails are perfect. If some of your guests prefer more traditional cocktails, try swapping the wine for vodka or Aviation Gin instead. Whether you plan to share a laugh with friends or want to enjoy a quiet afternoon by the pool, these cocktails will make your day extra special.
* How to Make Simple Syrup:
- Boil equal parts water and sugar in a saucepan (medium-high)
- Stir until the sugar dissolves, at least 3 minutes
- Remove from heat, and allow it to cool into a syrup
About the Author: Rebecca Siggers has been a wine lover and blogger for the last 5 years. She’s been to Napa Valley and is an avid traveler. She loves to try aged wines, dry red wine, and Aviation Gin is one of her favorite drinks. Through her writing she wants to spread love for wine all over the world.