5 Best Wine Cocktails

With the resurgence of a cocktail culture within the past few years, cocktails have become more inventive and more accessible to the public. While most of the glory goes to classic cocktail spirits—like whiskey and gin—wine can still get in on the action. Here are 5 creative and delicious wine cocktails.

Sauvignon Blanc Paloma—This cousin of the tequila-based classic Paloma is a refreshing and fun twist. This cocktail perfectly pairs with a bowl of chips and Guacamole, as well as a sunny day. You’ll need:

3 oz Sauvignon Blanc

Juice of 1/2 Grapefruit

1 Tbsp Sugar

1/2 oz Lime Juice

sparkling water

Salt for rimming

First Salt the rim of your glass and combine Sauvignon Blanc, Grapefruit juice, lime juice, and sugar in the same glass. Mix well before topping up with sparkling water. Add an optional lime wheel garnish.

Blackberry Red Wine Spritzer—This tart take on a classic wine drink is simple and delicious. All you’ll need is:

Red Wine

Blackberry sparkling water

Blackberries

Combine red wine and blackberry sparling water in a glass. Experiment with ratios to find one that you like best. Add blackberries for garnish and enjoy!

The Moscato Bee’s Knees—This is a wine-worthy on a classic cocktail. Simply substitute muscato in place of the 

traditional Gin for this perfectly balanced cocktail. You’ll need:

1 1/2 T. honey

1/2 T. hot water

2 tsp. to 1 T. fresh lemon juice

4 oz. Moscato

Combined honey and hot water in a glass and mix until honey is dissolved. Add lemon juice and moscato and fill the glass with ice. Garnish with a lemon slice and mint spring. Drizzle with honey, if desired.

Blackberry Lavender Champagne Cocktail—Now this is a sophisticated and celebratory cocktail. Perfect at any party, this Champagne based drink is a real crowd pleaser. You’ll need:

1 tablespoon lavender flowers dried or fresh

1 cup blackberries fresh or frozen

½ cup maple syrup

¼ cup vodka

2 750ml bottles champagne

To make this cocktail you will need to boil blackberries, maple syrup and vodka, gently mashing the berries as they cook until they are broken down—about 5 minutes. Add lavender flowers, removing from stem if they are fresh, and boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat. If time permits, allow sauce to steep for 2-24 hours. Add 1 table spoon of blackberry syrup to a champagne flute and top up with chilled champagne and garnish with a stem of lavender.

Peach and Basil White Sangria—This simple Spanish beverage is a summer classic, though it can be enjoyed year round! Fresh and balanced, this drink is perfect in for relaxing in the afternoon or evening. You’ll need:

ripe peaches

2 cups white wine

2 cups sparkling lemonade

10 leaves fresh basil

Ice cubes, to serve

First, remove the stones from the peaches, and slice. Add two of the sliced peaches to a high-powered blender. Blend until well chopped, then add the wine, and blend again until smooth. For an extra clean cocktail, you can strain through a fine mesh or muslin cloth. Add the lemonade and basil leaves, and mix well. Add the remaining peach slices, and serve over ice.