15 Indulgent Red Wine Cocktails To Make At Home

by Anthony Zhang

If you’re looking for delicious red wine cocktails, look no further.

By mixing red wine with delicious ingredients like freshly sliced orange, cinnamon sticks, and even egg white you can elevate your festive parties to a whole new level!

In this article, you’ll discover amazing red wine cocktail recipes and some great wine suggestions.

15 Indulgent Red Wine Cocktails

Here are some luscious red wine cocktails that you can make at home.

1. Mulled Wine

Mulled wine (also known as gluhwein, glogg, or spiced wine) is a warm, comforting wine cocktail that’s quite popular during the holidays.

Yields: 4-6 servings

Ingredients:

1 bottle of red wine
¼ cup of brandy
2-4 tablespoons of sugar, honey, or maple syrup
1 freshly sliced orange
2 cinnamon sticks
2 star anise
8 whole cloves

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients into a large saucepan and stir to combine.

2. Bring the mixture to a simmer.

3. Use a fine-mesh strainer to remove the orange slices and spices.

4. Taste the mulled wine and add more sugar if necessary.

5. Garnish with an orange slice and cinnamon sticks and serve warm in heatproof glassware.

Variations:

Don’t have red wine? No worries, you can easily make this cocktail with white wine instead.

Notes:

Try a delicious red wine like Zinfandel, Merlot, or Grenache. For example:

2016 Caymus Vineyards Zinfandel, Napa Valley, USA ($48)
2010 Roberto Voerzio Merlot Vigneto Fontanazza Pissotta Langhe, Piedmont, Italy ($135)
2012 Chateau Aladères Corbieres 'Selection Vieilles Vignes' Carignan - Grenache, Languedoc-Roussillon, France ($21)

2. Red Wine Sangria

This delicious alcoholic drink may have originated in Spain, but today it’s a firm favorite around the world.

Yields: 6-8 servings

Ingredients:

1 bottle of red wine
2 medium apples
2 medium oranges
½ cup brandy
½ cup orange liqueur, such as Cointreau
2 to 3 cups sparkling water
Ice

Directions:

1. Cut the fruit into thin slices and place them into a large pitcher.

2. Pour the brandy over the chopped apples and oranges.

3. Add the orange liqueur.

4. Pour the wine and stir.

5. Cover the pitcher with plastic wrap and place it into the refrigerator for at least 4 hours.

6. Take the pitcher out of the fridge and top it with sparkling water. Stir the mixture.

7. Serve in a glass of your choice with fresh fruit slices and ice.

Notes:

Try this cocktail recipe with an everyday Rioja, Merlot, or Malbec. Here are a few suggestions:

2009 Bodegas Faustino I Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa, Spain ($34)
2017 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot, Napa Valley, USA ($51)
2016 Catena Zapata 'Catena' Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina ($21)

3. Red Wine Spritzer

This fresh, invigorating red wine spritzer is a crowd-pleaser. Perfect for your next pool party, this wine spritzer can easily be made in large quantities.

Yields: 5 servings

Ingredients:

1 bottle of red wine
1L bottle of Sprite
Ice

Directions:

1. Fill your glasses with ice.

2. Fill them halfway with red wine.

3. Top with ice.

4. Stir and serve.

Notes:

Opt for bold, fruity wine like Petite Syrah, Shiraz, or Malbec. Here are a few good options:

2018 Stags' Leap Winery Petite Sirah, Napa Valley, USA ($34)
2017 Montes Folly Syrah, Apalta, Chile ($64)
2019 Catena Zapata 'Catena Alta' Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina ($37)

4. 1870 Sour

This divine cocktail is a variation of the classic whisky cocktail - Whisky Sours. But this version has a distinctly southern twist with a charcoal-filtered Tennessee whisky.

Yields: 1 serving

Ingredients:

60ml Tennessee whiskey
30ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
20ml maple syrup
1 egg white
1 teaspoon blueberry jam
30ml Zinfandel wine

Directions:

1. Combine the Tennessee whiskey, lemon juice, maple syrup, egg white, and blueberry jam in a shaker.

2. Shake for 10 seconds.

3. Fill the shaker with ice and continue shaking for 10 seconds.

4. Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a Mason jar or Bordeaux wine glass.

4. Slowly add the wine to the mixture by pouring it over the back of a spoon. The wine should float on top.

Notes:

Here are some great Zinfandel wines to try in this cocktail:

2016 Caymus Vineyards Zinfandel, Napa Valley, USA ($48)
2017 Grande Alberone Zinfandel, Italy ($12)
2017 Francis Ford Coppola Director's Cut Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley, USA ($29)

5. Francophile

Calvados gives this bold cocktail its robust backbone of apple and oak, which intermingles perfectly with Rioja wine.

Yields: 1 serving

Ingredients:

45ml Rioja wine
30ml Calvados
90ml water
8ml of freshly squeezed lemon juice
15ml cinnamon simple syrup
1 orange slice
1 cinnamon stick

Directions:

1. Combine the Rioja wine, Calvados, water, cinnamon simple syrup, and lemon juice in a small saucepan.

2. Place over medium-low heat and wait until the mixture is warmed through but not simmering.

3. Remove from the heat and pour into a heat-resistant mug.

4. Garnish with the orange slice and cinnamon stick before serving.

Notes:

A few great Rioja wines to try with this cocktail include:

2012 Marques de Murrieta Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial ($41)
2015 La Rioja Alta S.A. Gran Reserva 904, Rioja DOCa, Spain ($53)

6. Kalimotxo

Here’s a delicious Rioja wine cocktail that originated in the idyllic Basque Country.

Yields: 1 serving

Ingredients:

90ml Rioja wine
90ml Coca-Cola
Juice of 1 freshly squeezed lemon
1 lemon slice

Directions:

1. Add the wine, Coca-Cola, and lemon juice to a glass of your choice.

2. Add ice, garnish with the lemon slice and serve.

Notes:

Here are some of the best Rioja wines for this simple yet delicious cocktail:

2005 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva, Rioja DOCa, Spain ($50)
2004 Bodegas Faustino I Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa, Spain ($63)

7. Port Melon Cocktail

This versatile cocktail is both a refreshing summer drink and an invigorating winter cocktail. The flavor of the melon mingles harmoniously with the ripe fruity taste of Port wine.

Yields: 1 serving

Ingredients:

80ml Port wine
1 slice of yellow melon
1 can soda water
Ice
Melon balls for garnish

Directions:

1. Puree the melon in a blender.

2. Pour the puree into a high-ball glass and add ice.

3. Add the Port and soda water into the glass.

4. Stir the mixture, garnish with melon balls, and serve.

Notes:

Try this red wine cocktail with a spicy Port wine like:

2011 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port, Portugal ($102)
2009 Fonseca Vintage Port, Portugal ($93)

8. Peach Red Wine Cocktail

If you’re looking for a fun party cocktail recipe or boozy dessert to serve after a meal, you must try this sweet and sour cocktail.

Yields: 1 serving

Ingredients:

230ml Barolo wine
1 small peach
30ml lemon juice
A few mint sprigs

Directions:

1. Combine the wine and lemon juice in a mixer or a small bowl.

2. Shred the mint leaves and add them into the mixture.

3. Set the mixture aside and dice the peach into cubes.

4. Add the peach cubes into a glass and pour the wine over it.

5. Garnish with a sprig of mint and serve.

Notes:

Here are a few Port wine suggestions you could add to this cocktail:

2007 W & J Graham's Vintage Port ($89)
2018 Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage Port, Portugal ($57)

9. Cabernet Cobbler Cocktail

Here’s a simple cocktail made with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.

Yields: 1 serving

Ingredients:

120ml Cabernet Sauvignon
30ml lemon juice
60ml soda water
1 tablespoon fine sugar
Crushed ice
1 lemon slice

Directions:

Pour the lemon juice into a large red wine glass and add the sugar.
Once the sugar has dissolved, add the soda water.
Fill the glass with crushed ice.
Pour in the Cabernet Sauvignon and gently stir.
Garnish with a lemon slice and serve.

Notes:

Here are a few good wine options for this cocktail:

2015 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 'Artemis' Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA ($78)
2017 Beringer Vineyards Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA ($147)

10. Bloody Pepper

You don’t have to be an experienced bartender to make this spicy red cocktail.

Yields: 1 serving

Ingredients:

90ml full-bodied red wine
90ml Dr. Pepper soda (or Coca-Cola)
Crushed ice

Directions:

1. Chill a red wine glass in the freezer.

2. Remove the glass from the freezer and fill it with crushed ice.

3. Pour the wine and the soda over the ice.

4. Stir the mixture and serve with a cocktail straw.

Notes:

This cocktail tastes best with a bold Shiraz, Malbec, or Merlot:

2019 Glaetzer 'Amon-Ra' Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia ($59)
2015 Luca Malbec, Uco Valley, Argentina ($33)
2018 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot, Napa Valley, USA ($49)

11. Red Queen

If you’re a fan of the herbal Italian liqueur Amaro, you’ve got to give this cocktail a try.

Yields: 1 serving

Ingredients:

90ml red wine
30ml bourbon
20ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
15ml simple syrup
15ml Amaro Braulio
Lemon slices
Fresh thyme, sage, and rosemary sprigs

Directions:

1. Mix the wine, bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and Amaro in a cocktail shaker.

2. Add ice and shake vigorously.

3. Strain the mixture into a tall glass over ice.

4. Garnish with lemon wheels, fresh thyme, sage, and rosemary.

Notes:

For this cocktail, opt for a Malbec, Shiraz or Barolo wine:

2019 Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino, Uco Valley, Argentina ($81)
2016 Penfolds St. Henri Shiraz, South Australia ($122)
2011 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo DOCG, Piedmont, Italy ($335)

12. The New York Sour

Here’s another cocktail that’s a variation of the traditional Whisky Sours.

Yields: 1 serving

Ingredients:

60ml Rye or Bourbon whisky
30ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
30ml simple syrup
15ml of a fruity red wine

Directions:

1. Combine the whisky, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker.

2. Fill with ice, cover, and shake until chilled (the outside of the shaker should be frosty.)

3. Strain the mixture into a glass filled with ice.

4. Gently pour the red wine over the back of a spoon held just above the drink's surface, so the wine floats on top.

Notes:

This cocktail tastes best with fruity red wines such as Shiraz or Malbec:

2013 Duemani 'Suisassi' Syrah Costa Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy ($109)
2011 Achaval Ferrer Finca Altamira Malbec, Uco Valley, Argentina ($111)

13. Red Apple Cider Sangria

This ravishing red cocktail is a spin on the classic Sangria. It’s perfect for making a large batch.

Yields: 4 servings

Ingredients:

3 apples (sliced)
4 cinnamon sticks
1 bottle of Pinot Noir
2 cups cold apple cider
1/2 cup Grand Marnier liqueur
3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 orange wedge

Directions:

1. Add the apple slices and cinnamon sticks to a large pitcher.

2. Pour in the wine, apple cider, Grand Marnier, and maple syrup.

3. Stir the mixture and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

4. In the meantime, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon powder together.

5. Rub the orange wedge around the rim of the glass and dip it into the cinnamon sugar mix.

6. Take the Sangria out of the fridge and pour it into the glasses.

7. Add ice and serve.

Notes:

Try one of these Pinot Noir wine options:

2018 Bodega Chacra 'Cincuenta y Cinco 55' Pinot Noir, Rio Negro, Argentina ($61)
2019 Louis Jadot Bourgogne Pinot Noir ($20)

14. Amaro Spritz

This refreshing Italian cocktail makes an excellent aperitif to enjoy right before the main meal.

Yields: 1 serving

Ingredients:

60ml Amaro
90ml dry sparkling wine
30ml soda water or club soda
1 slice of lime

Directions:

1. Fill a red wine glass with ice.

2. Add the Amaro.

3. Top the glass with sparkling red wine and soda water.

4. Add the slice of lime to the glass and serve.

Notes:

This cocktail tastes great with Lambrusco or sparkling Shiraz wines:

2020 Podere Il Saliceto L'Albone Lambrusco di Modena Frizzante Secco, Emilia-Romagna, Italy ($22)
2013 Best's Great Western Sparkling Shiraz, Great Western, Australia ($37)