If you’ve ever had too many frozen margaritas in your younger years and now you can’t bear the sight of tequila, a cool wine cocktail might be what you need during happy hour.
There are so many wine cocktail recipes ready to be discovered. Whether you love red wine, white wine, rosé, or sparkling, there is a gorgeous wine cocktail out there for you.
In this article, we share six recipes for our favorite wine-based cocktails. From sangria to mimosas, this list will keep your weekends fun and your brunches boozy.
Sangria
Sangria is a classic Spanish party drink, consisting of red wine, chunks of fruit, and often brandy. The brandy is completely optional.
Here’s how to mix the ideal sangria for summer:
You will need:
- 1 bottle of red wine (your choice)
- 1 large orange chopped into eighths
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2.5 cups sparkling water or lemonade
- Ice cubes
How to mix:
- Add the orange and the sugar to a large jug and muddle with a wooden spoon.
- Pour red wine over it, stirring to incorporate the sugar.
- Add the ice and top the jug with sparkling water.
- Give the sangria one last stir and serve it in tumblers.
Aperol Spritz
Enjoy this traditional Italian cocktail for a taste of Venice. Aperol spritz is the must-have summer drink for anyone who loves the Mediterranean way of life. However, if you’ve never tried it before, make yourself a small one — the bitter orange flavor can be a bit of a shock.
You will need:
- 100ml Aperol
- 150ml Sparkling Brut
- 1 Seltzer of your choice
- Ice cubes
How to mix:
- Split the Aperol and the ice between two glasses
- Divide the sparkling wine between the glasses
- Top up the rest of the glass with seltzer
- Give it a taste — if it’s too strong add more seltzer, if not strong enough add more Aperol
White Wine Spritzer
There are so many ways to make a great white wine spritzer. You can mix a dry white wine with club soda, a dash of brown sugar, and lime juice to make a mojito-inspired spritz. Or mix ice, rosé wine, and cranberry juice for a gorgeous pink alternative. Here’s our classic spritzer recipe, which is perfect when sipped alongside brunch.
You will need:
- 100ml white wine (we like Sauvignon Blanc)
- 1 cup Seltzer or sparkling water
- Ice cubes
- 1 lemon peel
How to mix:
- Fill a large wine glass with ice
- Pour in the white wine
- Fill the rest of the glass with seltzer
- Add a curl of lemon peel to garnish
Mimosa
A Mimosa is a mix of fruit juice and sparkling wine. It’s a great addition to boozy brunches and backyard barbecues because it’s fruity, light, and has less alcohol than many drinks.
Although orange juice is the typical ingredient in mimosas, there are many other alternatives.
You will need:
- 100ml Sparkling Brut
- Orange juice (freshly squeezed is best, but store-bought will do too)
How to mix:
- Pour the Brut into a Champagne flute
- Top up the glass with orange juice until the glass is full
If you’re planning on hosting a get-together this weekend, make sure you get ingredients for wine cocktails. Whether you fancy the look of the classic Sangria or want to tackle the summery Mimosa, your guests will love these delicious drinks.