Fall Wine Cocktails
Fall just fell! Searching for a libation to replace the gin and tonics and Aperol you’ve been downing all summer (and isn’t pumpkin spice)? Look no further! These wine cocktails are the perfect way to capture the cozy essence of fall with their warm spices, rich flavors, and autumnal ingredients. Whether curled by the fireplace or hosting a fall gathering, these drinks will bring extra warmth and comfort to your season. So grab a bottle of your favorite wine, shake up one of these delicious cocktails, and toast to fall.
Here are 10 drink recipes to usher in the coziest of falls. Cheers!
1. Mulled Wine
A fall classic, mulled wine is the ultimate cozy cocktail. This warm drink, often sweetened with honey or orange slices, is made by simmering red wine with spices like cinnamon, cloves, and star anise. It’s perfect for sipping by the fire on a chilly evening.
Use a wine like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot to hold up against the spices
Ingredients:
1 bottle of red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot)
2 oranges (sliced)
1/4 cup honey or sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
5 cloves
3 star anise
1/4 cup brandy (optional)
Instructions:
Combine wine, orange slices, honey, and spices in a pot.
Simmer on low heat for 20-30 minutes (do not boil).
Add brandy if desired.
Serve warm with a cinnamon stick and orange slice.
2. Apple Cider Sangria
Mixing two of my favorite flavors for fall, Sangria and apple cider! Combine a crisp white wine like Pinot Grigio with fresh apples, pears, cinnamon sticks, and a brandy splash for a refreshing and seasonal sangria. We recommend soaking the fruit for a few hours to infuse the flavors into the wine.
Ingredients:
1 bottle of white wine (Pinot Grigio)
2 cups apple cider
1/2 cup brandy
1 apple (sliced)
1 pear (sliced)
2 cinnamon sticks
Instructions:
In a pitcher, combine wine, apple cider, brandy, and fruit slices.
Add cinnamon sticks.
Let chill for at least 1-2 hours before serving.
Serve over ice, garnished with apple or pear slices.
3. Red Wine Hot Chocolate
Wine and chocolate may seem weird, but trust me, it’s delicious. This rich and indulgent drink combines dark chocolate and red wine to create a decadent hot chocolate with a hint of fruitiness from the wine. It’s like dessert in a mug! You’ll need to use a red wine that is a bit on the fruity side, like Zinfandel.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup dark chocolate (chopped)
1 cup milk
1 cup red wine (Zinfandel)
1 tablespoon sugar (optional)
Instructions:
Heat milk and chocolate in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring until melted.
Slowly whisk in red wine and sugar (if desired).
Heat until warmed through, but don’t boil.
Serve warm in a mug, topped with whipped cream if desired.
4. Spiced White Wine Punch
White wine drinkers will love this concoction. It’s a little lighter but still packed with fall flavors. Combine a dry white wine with fall spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves. Add a splash of ginger beer for some extra warmth and fizz. Riesling or Chardonnay works well for this recipe, as their subtle sweetness balances the spice.
Ingredients:
1 bottle of white wine (Riesling or Chardonnay)
1/2 cup brandy
1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
1 cup apple cider
2 cinnamon sticks
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/2 cup ginger beer
Instructions:
Combine wine, brandy, honey, apple cider, and spices in a large pot.
Simmer on low heat for 20 minutes.
Stir in ginger beer before serving.
Serve warm or chilled with apple slices.
5. Pumpkin Spice Wine Latte
I know, pumpkin spice is almost considered trite now, but have you tried adding wine to the mix? Blend a sweet white wine like Moscato with brewed coffee, pumpkin puree, and your favorite fall spices for a surprising twist on this autumn staple. Top with whipped cream and a dusting of
cinnamon for the full effect.
Ingredients:
1 cup brewed coffee
1/2 cup white wine (Moscato)
1 tablespoon pumpkin puree
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup milk
Whipped cream (optional)
Instructions:
Combine coffee, wine, pumpkin puree, and spices in a saucepan.
Heat until warm but do not boil.
Stir in milk and heat through.
Pour into a mug and top with whipped cream and cinnamon.
6. Cranberry Wine Spritzer
Cranberries are among the best things about fall, and they make a great addition to a wine spritzer. Combine sparkling wine with cranberry juice, a splash of club soda, and a handful of fresh cranberries for a light, festive drink perfect for holiday gatherings. Prosecco adds the right amount of bubbles and sweetness to balance the tart cranberry juice.
Ingredients:
1 bottle of sparkling wine (Prosecco)
1/2 cup cranberry juice
1/4 cup club soda
Fresh cranberries (for garnish)
Instructions:
In a glass, mix cranberry juice and club soda.
Pour in sparkling wine.
Stir gently and garnish with fresh cranberries.
7. Pear and Ginger Sparkler
Nothing says fall like fresh pears; this pear and ginger sparkler is refreshing and warm. Start with a sparkling white wine and add a pear puree, ginger syrup, and a splash of lemon juice for a cocktail that’s as elegant as it is cozy. Use Champagne or a crisp Cava to complement the delicate pear and
spicy ginger.
Ingredients:
1 bottle of sparkling wine (Champagne or Cava)
1/2 cup pear puree
1 tablespoon ginger syrup
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Sliced pear (for garnish)
Instructions:
Combine pear puree, ginger syrup, and lemon juice in a glass.
Top with sparkling wine and stir gently.
Garnish with a pear slice.
8. Maple Whiskey Red Wine Sour
Whiskey Sour becomes a Fall Sour with the addition of red wine and maple syrup. Try a bold red like Shiraz (Syrah from Australia) to add depth to this cocktail.
Ingredients:
1 oz whiskey
2 oz red wine (Shiraz)
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 oz lemon juice
Ice
Instructions:
In a shaker, combine whiskey, red wine, maple syrup, and lemon juice.
Add ice and shake until chilled.
Strain into a glass and garnish with a lemon slice.
9. Caramel Apple Mimosa
This mimosa is the perfect fall brunch drink. Simply combine sparkling wine with apple cider and a drizzle of caramel syrup. It’s sweet, refreshing, and tastes just like a caramel apple cocktail. Opt for a sparkling wine that isn’t too sweet, like a Brut, to balance the caramel.
Ingredients:
1 bottle of sparkling wine (Brut)
1/2 cup apple cider
2 tablespoons caramel syrup
Apple slices (for garnish)
Instructions:
Pour apple cider into a champagne flute.
Top with sparkling wine.
Drizzle caramel syrup over the top and garnish with an apple slice.
10. Autumn Rosé Sangria
Rosé is not just for summer. This autumn version combines rosé with fresh figs, oranges, and a splash of brandy. It’s light but filled with fall flavors, making it perfect for those crisp early fall days. Use a dry rosé for a more balanced sangria that doesn’t overwhelm with sweetness.
Ingredients:
1 bottle of rosé wine
1/2 cup brandy
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 cup figs (sliced)
1 orange (sliced)
1 tablespoon honey
Instructions:
In a pitcher, combine rosé, brandy, orange juice, figs, and orange slices.
Stir in honey.
Chill for at least 2 hours before serving.
Serve over ice, garnished with fruit slices.
This article was generated with insight from ChatGPT, an AI model developed by OpenAI.
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