Wine cocktails are a delectable way of adding creativity and refreshment to this classic beverage. Enjoying a glass of red or white wine is an exemplary experience on its own, but pairing it with an assortment of flavours and aromas will elevate this elegant experience and provide a comforting evening. Wines have been a beverage of choice to many for centuries, their overall nature is unique, sumptuous and can be paired well with a wide range of foods and spices. Since we’re on the topic of cocktails, decorating your palette by combining wines with a variety of fresh fruits, sizzling sodas and spritzing as well as added flavours of spices or even secondary alcoholic beverages will enhance your repertoire for a delightful evening.
The rich history of wine along with its appealing diversity makes it an idyllic option to spice up any cocktail and the best part is, since they’re widely accessible, you can make most of the cocktails at home and provide quality entertainment to your guests. Some of the most iconic cocktails in the world are wine-based, to name a few, we’re sure you’ve heard of sangria, mimosas, spritzers and many more. These concoctions not only showcase the versatility of wine but also provide an exciting alternative for those looking to expand their beverage horizons. The options are truly endless, whether you prefer a wine that is red, white or rosé, the list of ingredients and pairings goes on.
Each drink can be an extraordinary seasonal experience, in addition, certain fruits and flavours are best enjoyed in specific conditions where their characteristics truly begin to shine. For that reason, a wine cocktail can be a complex experience that adds depth of flavour to these seasonal ingredients that will not only complement the wine itself but entice your palate with the most exciting tastes you’ve witnessed. Although there is a wide variety of wines with deep and well-structured flavours, a wine cocktail in fact can be an incredibly refreshing beverage of choice.
That being said, we’re eager to share with you some of the most iconic and beloved wine cocktails you should try.
Sangria

First things first, it’s best to start with the classic. A sangria will always be a marvellous and accessible choice for anyone interested in delving into wine cocktails. The best part is that sangria can be made using any type of wine you prefer and can be made in a large batch that will cater to a crowd or event, so not only is it incredibly refreshing but its practical nature is perfect for a comfortable afternoon or evening. Its light and fruity note can be enjoyed all year long, depending on the wine of your choice whether that’s white, red or rosé for that matter.
The fascinating, long history of sangria dates back to the Middle Ages. It is a drink typically enjoyed in Spain and Portugal where the warmth of the sun and the variety of fruits come together to create a masterpiece of charming flavours that can be enjoyed throughout the entirety of the year. The most typical option is a sed sangria, and for a good reason, the depth of flavour and spice that goes into the creation of this cocktail is irresistible. Generally, the contents of a sangria is a fine aged wine paired with a variety of fruits and spices. This recipe eventually evolved into a wide range of options depending on the region. Typically the wine depends on your personal preference and since this drink is mixed with an abundance of fruits and flavors, it’s not a necessity to use an extravagant wine. But ultimately, wines such as Pinot Noir, Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon complement this drink wonderfully.
Our recommendation for a red sangria is to use our Alexandria red which has a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Vranec and Merlot. The wine itself has an aroma of red fruits such as cherries and currants that will interact well with this specific cocktail. As for the recipe, all you’ll need is an assortment of fruits along with some sugar and soda water. You can get creative and rearrange the fruit combinations depending on what’s in season. Nevertheless, you can’t go wrong with citrus, strawberries, apples and blueberries. You slice up the fruit, combine everything in a pitcher, add in two tablespoons of sugar and stir until it has dissolved. Finally, complete with soda water and ice along with some juice of an orange.
White Wine Spritzer

Classic for a reason, this delightful and refreshing beverage is the perfect addition to a hot summer’s day. Its simplicity is widely appealing and it offers you the practicality of choosing your favourite white wine and drowning it in a spritzer as it dazzles away in your glass. These classic cocktails are a staple for a reason, you simply can’t go wrong with few, but promising ingredients. Not only does this cocktail have a low-alcohol content but you can adjust the levels of ratio depending on your personal preference. Due to its light and breezy quality, it’s an ideal drink to have at daytime gatherings and social events.
No matter what type of white wine you use for this cocktail, the result will be satisfactory. Typically, a crisper, more dry wine is used in the creation of a white wine spritzer but if you prefer wines that have a sweeter note, that’s perfectly acceptable! To name a few, you can always use a Sauvignon Blanc or a Pinot Grigio. A delectable option for this type of cocktail is our own Barovo white with contents of 100% Sauvignon Blanc.
The enticing blend of refreshing aromas of green apple, lime, gooseberry, nectarine, passionfruit and subtle hints of vanilla make it an extraordinary pick for a classic cocktail such as a white wine spritzer. It’s a cocktail you can compose yourself depending on the ratio of white wine to soda water and of course, an abundance of ice to cool down the warmth of the summer season.
Rosé Cooler

Another stunning crowd-pleaser, the rosé cooler is a diverse cocktail that is easy to make and is equally enjoyable. The beauty of a Rosé Cooler lies in its adaptability. Bartenders and enthusiasts often experiment with different variations by adding a range of ingredients such as fruits and herbs that ultimately create a blend of flavors that interact well with each other. This cocktail is an interesting combination of a sangria, due to its variety of fruits and a negroni as it also contains gin and Campari. The gentleness of the rosé in combination with the sweetness of the Campari make this cocktail an excellent choice for the warmer months.
For this particular drink, opting for a light and dry wine is a wise choice to balance out the flavours. Luckily, our Alexandria Cuvée rosé wine with its blend of soft hints of rose, pear, peach and raspberry is an idyllic choice for a rosé cooler, especially since its light cherry flavour accompanied by orange notes makes it exceedingly refreshing. To create this cocktail, you’ll need a bottle of rosé wine, 3 cups of fresh berries, a cup of lemonade, 4 oz gin, 2 oz of Campari and a dash of sugar. You stir everything in a pitcher as though you’re making a Sangria and refrigerate it covered for the flavours to marry each other.
Mulled Wine

Since our focus has been on refreshing drinks that can be enjoyed in the warmer months, it’s only fair to share with you a stunning winter cocktail that is both rich and comforting due to its unique blend of spices and aromas. Mulled wine has a captivating history because it has been made since ancient times, especially acting as a warming agent during the harsh cold weather, nowadays, it acts as a staple at winter festivities for guests to enjoy and remain warm. Its full body of flavour provides an aroma that is irresistible to the senses.
Typically for this drink, dry red wine is the way to go since the recipe for Mulled Wine calls for many sweeteners such as sugar, orange, cinnamon, and many added spices. The Alexandria Cuvée red wine from our collection has complex notes of red and black fruits accompanied by a fascinating arrangement of dried tobacco, smoke, black pepper and cinnamon in its flavour structure that will create the most extraordinary mulled wine you’ve ever tasted. The blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Vranec gives it an enchanting ruby-red colour that will decorate this exemplary drink even further.
There are many variations to the recipe for mulled wine as it has a complex structure. The one we recommend contains a full-bodied red wine, black peppercorns, cinnamon sticks, star anise, orange slices and granulated sugar. You essentially stir everything together in a pot and bring it to a simmer. Cover it and let it stand over high heat for about 30 minutes, checking frequently. The aromas that will be released from all the spices and fruits will be heavenly.
As we’ve reached our end, we’re inviting you to indulge in some of these exquisite cocktails and perhaps even try some of our selection of wines along the way. Whether you’re hosting a social gathering or simply unwinding after a long day, the accessibility and diversity of wine cocktails is an excellent alternative to elevate your palette. Next time when you reach for a bottle of wine consider pairing it with some fantastic ingredients such as fruits and spices that will elevate your drink to the next level.
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