I’ll be the first to admit I love wine on its own and am often a bit skeptical of a wine-based cocktail. Maybe it’s because I grew up in the 80’s and was traumatized by Bartles & Jaymes.
But let's shift perspective a bit. Think of a wine cocktail as a drink that uses wine as its base the way a regular cocktail uses a spirit. You want to play up the natural flavors in the wine for a more layered experience. Wine can also be used as a great substitute for spirits to make classic cocktails that are low-proof (See White Wine Mojito below). And if you're entertaining, wine-based cocktails are great to make in pitcher sized batches so no one is stuck behind the bar.
Here are a few ideas to get you started just in time for warm-weather hangouts.
Wine Spritzer
Let’s start with the most basic and most made fun of - the wine spritzer. Again I blame the 80’s and still can’t help think of bad perms when I hear the words. But the idea of a spritzer has so much more to offer. While it may seem a shame to mix perfectly good wine, white or red, with soda water, on a hot summer day there is nothing better than a crisp, fruity Pinot Grigio brightened up with seltzer and a squeeze of citrus. Trust me on this one.
But a wine spritzer can easily be made more “sophisticated” with a few dashes of bitters and/or a little flavored syrup or fresh fruit. Remember it’s all about balance, so if you use a sweeter wine you might want a bit more bitters or tarter fruit like berries, but a super dry wine goes well with sweeter fruit like peaches and mangos.
Strawberry Basil Spritz
This simple, yet impressive spritz is layered with flavor and looks stunning in the glass.
1 bottle (750 ml) Riesling (Pinto Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc also works well)
2 cups strawberries sliced
2 Tbs sugar
¼ cup basil leaves roughly torn
16 oz soda water
In a bowl combine strawberries, sugar, basil, and bitters. Muddle until the strawberries are pulp and no large pieces remain. Add the bottle of wine and stir to mix. It should turn a lovely shade of pink. Then strain into a pitcher to remove pulp and leaves. Add soda water just before serving and give a gentle stir. Pour into a wine glass or tumbler with a few ice cubes and garnish with a basil leaf. Source: https://thebitterhousewife.com/blogs/bitterly-honest/wine-based-cocktails?srsltid=AfmBOooQGG9C8-RbUejK4lTyrseNdvZ4b5b1CDDquoCFDhbQkb2aJsWE
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