Cocktail enthusiasts out there, it’s time for some wine cocktails! Although it’s always amazing to drink wine straight up, there’s so much more you can do with this gem of alcohol. To make it easier for you, here are some wine cocktails recipes to make at home by Devati Mallick. Let us take a look at some of the best wine based cocktails.
Devati Mallick: A Wine Connoisseur
Devati currently works as the Sommelier & Brand Head for Krsma Estates Wines, based in Bangalore. Prior to this, she worked with the Oberoi Group of Hotels & Resorts for 7+ years. She is also a Certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers and won the 11th Indian Sommelier Championship in 2018. Her passion revolves around food and beverage, and she loves talking (and drinking!) wines & spirits in general. She is torn between wanting to open a wine and dessert bar one day or work at a vineyard for the rest of her life. In both cases, she would get to drink a lot of wine (and eat dessert), hence I still cannot make a choice!
Now, let’s take a look at wine cocktails to make at home!
Spritz It Up!
Let us begin with one of the best wine cocktails. Summers are incomplete without Spritzers, and the twist in this summer wine spritzer will surely transport you from home to a resort in the Tropics! You can use any inexpensive, refreshing white wine available, like a Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, or Gruner Veltliner. It is easy to prepare tasty white wine cocktails.
Ingredients
Serves 2
- 250 ml chilled white wine
- 150 ml club soda
- Juice from one lemon
- 1 tbsp honey
- 10-12 mint leaves
- Garnish with peppered raw mango slices or lime slices
Method
- In a large glass, muddle the mint leaves, lemon juice, and honey
- Split this mint mixture into two glasses
- Add 6-8 ice cubes to each glass
- Fill each glass with the respective measures of white wine and soda, give it a quick stir
- Garnish with lime slices or with thinly sliced raw mango sprinkled with lime and pepper
Summer Sangria
Never miss eating fruits, they said. Here’s an adult version of staying healthy: a wine with fruits in its favorite version, Sangrias! Use any aromatic and slightly acidic white wine for this drink, like a Viognier, Gewurztraminer, Chenin Blanc, or Riesling.
Ingredients
Serves 2
- 300 ml White wine
- 60 ml Malibu or White Rum (optional, for the extra tropical feels)
- 5-6 Basil leaves
- 1 diced ripe mango
- A dash of soda or tonic water
- Cinnamon Sticks for garnish
Method
- Chill two glasses with 3-4 ice cubes
- Tear the basil leaves slightly and slap between your palms to release the flavors and add to the glass
- Divide the diced mangoes to the glasses
- Add the wine, add a dash of soda or tonic to the drink and stir
Garnish
For the garnish, slightly burn a cinnamon stick till it releases aromas and garnish the drink with it, allowing it to mix with the drink and also double up as a stirrer.
TIP: You can experiment with any other summer fruits here, like kiwis, oranges or watermelon chunks.
Vin-Tini
Looking for delicious red wine cocktails? This is for all the martini-lovers in the house! Who knew you could dress up a basic red wine at home into a delicious martini? This is one of my favourites because it is an absolute quick-fix recipe and helps sort all martini cravings at home in a jiffy! Use any basic, dry red wine available at your disposable for this drink. It is one of the best wine cocktails you could try at home.
Ingredients
Serves 2
- 120 ml Red wine
- 60 ml Gin
- 60 ml cold brew coffee
- 60 ml Orange/Pomegranate juice
Method
- Take a large mixing glass filled with ice cubes
- Add the juice, cold brew coffee, gin and red wine to the mixing glass in this order
- Give it a nice, swift stir to chill the drink
- Strain the drink equally in two wine/martini glasses
- Twist the orange peel around the glass rim a few times to release the citrus oils on the drink
- Drop the same peel into the drink as the garnish
TIP: For drinks (like this one) that do not have any carbonated element, add the spirit or wine as the last ingredient. This helps save the most important (and expensive) ingredient, the liquor, in case you happen to over pour any mixer element.
Frosé Fever
If it’s a crime to love all things pink, sue me! Frosés (Frozen Rosés) was one of the most hyped Instagram trends but after trying them out, you see that they’re actually such an effortless summer drink to make and god! They look so pretty! If you have a bottle of rosé lying in the back of your cupboard, turn it into a Frosé right now!
Ingredients
Serves 4 (Scale down the recipe as required)
- One 750 ml bottle Rosé wine
- 8-10 frozen ripe strawberries (or 1.5 cups of any available frozen berries)
- 2 cups ice
- 2 tbsp white sugar (or honey)
Method
- Freeze the bottle of rosé overnight for the perfect consistency frosé
- Add all ingredients in a blender and process to a slush-like consistency
- Serve immediately, garnished with fruit
- You may play around with the choice and quantity of fruit, I also love a watermelon version of this drink!
TIP: For extra slushiness, pour the rose wine out in a wide vessel and then freeze it overnight. It won’t freeze completely because of the alcohol but will freeze a bit more in the pan than it will in the bottle.
Breakfast Royale
Who said that a bottle of champagne needs a special occasion to be popped open? Drinking champagne at any time is fantastic, and drinking champagne for breakfast is even more fantastic! Take out that bottle of champagne or sparkling wine now and do it right with this cocktail that’s my spin-off version of a Mimosa.
Alert: It’s so good that you’d probably finish a bottle yourself, so stock up accordingly!
Ingredients
Serves 1
- 75 ml bubbly
- 60 ml Orange juice (canned/fresh)
- 15 ml orange peel & clove simple syrup
- Orange twirl for garnish
Method
Orange Peel and Clove Simple Syrup
- For the orange peel and clove simple syrup, place equal parts of sugar and water in a small saucepan on medium heat
- bring to boil after adding 6-8 whole cloves and a few strips of orange peel
- Reduce the heat to low, simmer for 4-5 minutes stirring intermittently
- Remove from heat, and refrigerate overnight
- Use for as many cocktails as you want!
How to make Breakfast Royale?
- Build the drink in a champagne tulip by adding the syrup, juice and bubbly, all chilled, in that order
- Give it a slight stir, garnish with an orange twirl and your Royal Breakfast is ready!
TIP: Avoid stirring any drink with sparkling wine for a long time as it dissipates the bubbles quicker. Add the bubble at the end, give the drink a quick stir and you’re good to go!
Let us know in the comment box if you wish to know more on wine cocktails.
Move Beyond the usuals, experiment with your wine and celebrate with these wine cocktails!
