Far beyond Sangria, wine is a versatile base for a variety of other specialty cocktails delivering unique and complex flavor profiles. Master Mixologist Nikki can demonstrate and discuss how to quickly and easily craft tasty wine cocktails like the 12 below—and also how using the VinoVoss AI Wine Sommelier app or web search can help you choose the perfect wine ingredient to personalize the overall craft beverage experience … both for fall season kick-backs and the holidays, alike:
1. French 75
- Ingredients: Champagne, gin, lemon juice, simple syrup
- Description: A classic cocktail that combines bubbly Champagne with the botanicals of gin, brightened with a touch of lemon.
2. Mulled Wine
- Ingredients: Red wine, spices (cinnamon, cloves, star anise), citrus, honey
- Description: A warm, spiced wine drink, perfect for colder weather, often served during the holidays.
3. Red Wine Negroni
- Ingredients: Red wine, Campari, sweet vermouth
- Description: A twist on the classic Negroni, using red wine in place of gin for a more complex, wine-forward flavor.
4. Gloria
- Ingredients: White wine, gin, citrus, sugar
- Description: A Spanish cocktail mixing gin and white wine with a citrusy sweetness.
5. Port & Tonic
- Ingredients: White port wine, tonic water, lime
- Description: A crisp and refreshing cocktail where white port wine is mixed with tonic and a hint of citrus.
6. New York Sour
- Ingredients: Bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, red wine (usually a dry variety)
- Description: A twist on the traditional whiskey sour, topped with a float of red wine for depth and color.
7. Wine Mojito
- Ingredients: White wine, mint, lime, simple syrup, soda water
- Description: A refreshing take on the classic mojito, using white wine in place of rum for a lighter, fruity version
8. Kir Royale
- Ingredients: Champagne, crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur)
- Description: A simple but elegant cocktail, where crème de cassis adds sweetness and color to sparkling wine.
9. Aperol Spritz
- Ingredients: Prosecco, Aperol, soda water
- Description: A refreshing, slightly bitter cocktail with a bright orange hue.
10. Bellini
- Ingredients: Prosecco, peach puree
- Description: A fruity and elegant cocktail made with bubbly Prosecco and sweet peach puree.
11. Mimosa
- Ingredients: Champagne, orange juice
- Description: A brunch favorite that mixes Champagne with freshly squeezed orange juice for a light, citrusy cocktail.
12. White Wine Spritzer
- Ingredients: White wine, club soda, fruit garnish
- Description: A light, fizzy drink made by diluting white wine with club soda, perfect for a casual afternoon.
Nicolette “Nikki” Bonkowski is a Wine craft cocktail expert with the “VinoVoss” AI Sommelier wine app and web-based search engine and recommendation system developed by BetterAI. A master mixologist with over a decade of industry excellence, she is known from South Florida to Alaska for her extreme cocktail creativity and versatility. Nikki is revered for her ability to ideate and craft signature drinks and curate innovative menus that blend modern trends with timeless classics—often with a surprising element that amps up the flavor and whimsy. Nikki’s expertise is recognized through her competitive accolades, including the prestigious “Best Old Fashioned in Broward County” title, showcasing her precision and ingenuity. She has also been selected for other showdown competitions where she has conceived and showcased suites of entirely original cocktail recipes featuring her own homemade syrups. An expert in crafting memorable beverage experiences, Nikki’s industry knowledge and charismatic presence have also led her to on-screen features, where she shares her mixology expertise with a broader audience. Whether designing bespoke drinks, curating menus, or representing brands, Nikki is mixology trailblazer continually setting a high standards for the craft.
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