There's a general impression that there are a lot of rules to follow when it comes to wine, such as the temperature at which it should be drunk and what foods it should be paired with.
But in fact, it is a drink that can be enjoyed in any way you like.
Countries around the world have cultures of enjoying coffee in a variety of different ways, such as adding ice, juice, or fruit.
"Wine cocktails" are one of them.
Wine cocktails?
You may not have heard of it...
A "cocktail" means mixing something together, right?
I feel like it might ruin the taste of the wine...
Hahaha, I think so too (laughs)
However, you can still make delicious cocktails using wine!!
Of course, high-quality homemade wines aren't suitable for cocktails, but they are a great way to add a little something extra to your everyday wine arsenal.
Many wine cocktails originated in Europe, and are a popular way to drink wine in the home of wine. "Sangria," which is also familiar in Japan, was also born in Spain.
When you hear the word "cocktail," you might think of something made with distilled alcohol such as blackcurrant liqueur, vodka, or gin. However, the term cocktail generally refers to any alcoholic drink made by mixing alcohol with other alcoholic beverages or juices, regardless of the type of base alcohol.
Wine cocktails are made by mixing wine with soda or juice to reduce the bitterness and lighten the alcohol content. The result is a refreshing and easy-to-drink taste, so it is especially recommended for those who don't like wine (and of course for those who like wine too).
It is also a great way to use up any wine you haven't finished. Even if the wine has been opened for some time, you can still enjoy it by making it into a cocktail.
This time, we will introduce some "wine cocktails" !
This is my original recipe, a wine cocktail made with New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, perfect for summer.
The wine cocktails we will introduce this time are all very simple in terms of ingredients and quantities. They are also easy to make, and there is no need to shake them in a shaker; just pour them into a glass and mix. Even beginners can make them in no time.
Not only does it taste great, it also looks beautiful, allowing you to enjoy wine from a variety of angles.
This time, I actually tried making a wine cocktail.
I hope that both wine novices and wine lovers will discover a new world!
Which New Zealand wines should you use in your cocktails?
The key points of the wine cocktails we will introduce this time are:
- With readily available materials
- Easy to make
Anyway, these two points are the key points!
The two New Zealand wines we have prepared are:
New Zealand white wines "Karpukar" and "Moana Bay" available at convenience stores
The two New Zealand wines you can buy at convenience stores are "Karpukar" and "Moana Bay." Both are Sauvignon Blanc wines.
"Car Poo Car" is an original product of Seven-Eleven (Seven Premium). "Moana Bay" is a Family Mart exclusive product.
Wow, you can make cocktails using convenience store wine!
Yes, convenience store wine is fine! We recommend wines that are casual and affordable for use in cocktails.
Also, New Zealand wine is hard to find at convenience stores, so these two bottles are valuable!
Many of the ingredients for the cocktails we're introducing this time, except for wine, can be purchased at supermarkets, so we encourage you to try making them at home!
Iwasu's original cocktail "NZ Wine Cooler"
First, let us introduce our website's recommended original cocktails.
Ta-da!
It's called the "NZ Wine Cooler" !
Wow, it's so beautiful!
The cocktail proposed by Iwasu is made using "New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc" and kiwi fruit, a New Zealand specialty.
This is a highly recommended dish that will let you fully experience the New Zealand feel.
By the way, what is a wine cooler ?
A wine cooler is an original cocktail made with wine. There is no strict definition, and I think anything made by mixing wine with fruit liquor or juice can be called a wine cooler.
Now let me introduce you to the recipe!
material
- NZ Sauvignon Blanc...100ml
- Carbonated water...100ml
- Kiwi fruit...1 piece (additional kiwi fruit for decoration)
- Syrup or soluble honey...about 15ml (or the amount you prefer)
- Mint or other herbs...as needed
- ice
- Wide straws, spoons, etc.
How to make it
- Place the sliced kiwi fruit into a Ziploc bag and crush with your hands.
- Add 1 to a glass filled with ice.
- Add the Sauvignon Blanc and soda water.
- Add the syrup (or easily soluble honey) and mix.
- Garnish with your favorite herbs and it's done!
*You can make this with white wine and carbonated water in a 1:1 ratio.
It's easy! Just crush, add and mix!
What are the key points to keep in mind when making it?
Are there any tips for making it?
Yes, when you mash a kiwi, check with your hand how well it is mashed. Make sure you mash it well enough so that it is easy to drink through a straw.
Kiwi is a little sour, so add as much syrup as you like. Using honey will give it a richer taste!
It is also recommended to mix green kiwi and gold kiwi.
What were your impressions of drinking the "NZ Wine Cooler"?
How does it taste?
This isn't alcohol!! What is this fresh feeling?
Mmm, delicious!
It feels like I'm eating New Zealand! ♡
It's definitely something that girls will love (laughs).
I want to eat this kiwi too! What should I do?
Crush it and drink it, or eat it with a spoon.
What inspired this recipe?
This cocktail, "NZ Wine Cooler," was created with the hope of making New Zealand feel more familiar to people .
The most well-known New Zealand specialty in Japan is kiwi fruit. And the very distinctive New Zealand wine. What would happen if you combined these two? That's what the experiment started.
I wanted to preserve the refreshing taste of the Sauvignon Blanc, so I mixed it with carbonated water to keep it simple.
Rather than pairing it with a meal, we hope you enjoy it as a dessert with a slightly more grown-up New Zealand feel .
This cocktail has an irresistible kiwi-like texture, and we recommend drinking it while crushing the flesh with a thick straw. The flavor of the kiwi itself does not deteriorate over time, and since it contains syrup, you can enjoy it like a dessert. Enjoy it for a long time while chatting.
Kiwi and Sauvignon Blanc are both New Zealand specialties, so they go together perfectly.
The fresh kiwi flavor is complemented by the strong presence of Sauvignon Blanc.
It's a great combination of sour x sour!
This would be great for a home party too.
Yep, if I could drink something like this, it would be so much fun and a great memory~♡
The "NZ Wine Cooler" is a new type of cocktail made with New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Please give it a try!
A classic white wine cocktail
Next, we will introduce a classic wine cocktail using New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
Following on from our introduction to the "NZ Wine Cooler", we would like to introduce the NZ Sauvignon Blanc we highly recommend from the perspective of which wine cocktails it is best suited for .
That's right, when it comes to white wine, Chardonnay is the classic.
And we choose to make it using New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
In addition, the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc wines we have prepared this time, "Moana Bay" and "Karpukaa", have the following characteristics:
- Moana Bay: A type with moderate richness but a refreshing acidity.
- Car Puka...Very smooth and light to drink.
This was also an experiment to see if there was any difference between these two types of Sauvignon Blanc when they were made into cocktails.
Let's explore cocktails that go well with NZ Sauvignon Blanc!
Spritzer (white wine + carbonated water)
A simple cocktail made by mixing white wine with carbonated water, the "spritzer" is refreshing and low in alcohol, making it the perfect drink to quench your thirst.
Because it is simple, it allows the flavor of the base white wine to come through directly.
It's not sweet so it goes well with meals!
【material】
- White wine…60ml
- Carbonated water...60ml
- ice
- Lemon or lime
- Mint or other flavors to taste
【How to make】
- Pour white wine and carbonated water into a glass filled with ice.
- Add sliced lemon or lime, mix lightly and it's done!
*You can make this with a 1:1 ratio of white wine and carbonated water.
So refreshing! So refreshing!
I think I can tell the difference between Moana Bay and Ka Poo Ka. Moana Bay has a stronger flavor!
If you want something carbonated but beer seems too heavy, I recommend this spritzer.
What goes well with NZ Sauvignon Blanc?
This cocktail brings out the flavor of the base wine, so if you use a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc it will have a refreshing taste.
On the other hand, if you want something a little more full-bodied, try using Chilean Chardonnay.
Operator (white wine + ginger ale)
The Operator is a cocktail made with white wine and ginger ale.
The complex flavor of white wine adds depth to the ginger ale, making it delicious on its own, but if you use a slightly dry white wine, it will go well with meals.
This is the kind of drink you can enjoy by the beach as much as you like!
【material】
- White wine...60ml
- Ginger ale…60ml
- ice
- lemon
- Lemon balm, mint, etc. (as desired)
【How to make】
- Add white wine and ginger ale to a glass filled with ice and stir gently.
- Garnish with skewered lemon and it's done!
*You can make this with a 1:1 ratio of white wine and ginger ale.
Wow, so delicious!♡
It's like a very adult ginger ale.
If you use herbs and citrus fruits like this, it's bound to be delicious (laughs). I think if you used Chardonnay it would have a completely different taste.
Yeah, this is definitely a delicious one.
But I don't know which is Moana Bay and which is Carpoo Car (laughs).
What goes well with NZ Sauvignon Blanc?
Ginger ale pairs well with sour flavors, so it goes perfectly with a sour Sauvignon Blanc. I highly recommend it!
Still Mimosa (white wine + orange juice)
Originally, the "Mimosa" is a cocktail made with champagne and orange juice, but here we will introduce a simplified version of it, a "Mimosa" made with still wine.
This cocktail with its beautiful bright orange color is a classic cocktail that is popular with women.
It's also suitable as an aperitif.
【material】
- White wine…60ml
- Orange juice…60ml
- Cut Orange
【How to make】
- Add the white wine and orange juice to a glass and stir gently.
- Garnish with chopped orange and it's done!
*You can make this with a 1:1 ratio of white wine and orange juice.
Oh, it's so beautiful ♡
It's like an adult orange juice!
However, I still don't know whether this is Moana Bay or Car Poo Car.
What goes well with NZ Sauvignon Blanc?
The orange juice is so strong that it takes away the wine's character. There's no need to use NZ Sauvignon Blanc for this cocktail! (laughs)
Kir (white wine + cassis)
Kir is a colorful cocktail made with white wine and cassis liqueur. It is a slightly rich, sweet and sour cocktail for adults.
It's a cocktail made with alcohol, so it has a high alcohol content. It's easy to drink because it's easy to drink, but be careful because it can make you drunk easily.
【material】
- White wine...100ml
- 20ml creme de cassis
【How to make】
- Add the creme de cassis to the glass.
- Slowly pour in the white wine and it's done! (This will create beautiful layers.)
*Please mix lightly before drinking.
This is also very beautiful~♡It tasted like a fruit liqueur, similar to pomegranate.
Yes, I think this would also be good as an aperitif.
It tastes just right when you add ice and drink it.
What goes well with NZ Sauvignon Blanc?
In this cocktail, the freshness of the Sauvignon Blanc is lost and overshadowed by the Cassis. So, there is no need to use NZ Sauvignon Blanc! (laughs)
In this cocktail, the freshness of the Sauvignon Blanc is lost and overshadowed by the Cassis. So, there is no need to use NZ Sauvignon Blanc! (laughs)
Above are some white wine-based cocktails.
Many white wines contain herbal aromas, so I've found that adding fresh herbs to cocktails works very well.
In addition, cocktails that make use of the fresh acidity that is characteristic of NZ Sauvignon Blanc are
- Spritzer
- operator
We recommend these two types!
We encourage you to try making a wine cocktail with New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc!
Classic red wine cocktail
Next up, we'll introduce some extra tips: classic cocktails based on red wine!
These cocktails are refreshing and perfect for the hot summer.
The wines used were two types of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Standard convenience store Cabernets "Yosemite Road" and "Frontera"
Chilean "Frontera" can also be purchased at convenience stores such as 7-Eleven and Family Mart.
"Yosemite Road" is an original product of 7-Eleven. It is a Cabernet from California.
Frontera has a fuller, richer flavor, while Yosemite Road is a relatively refreshing red wine that is easy to drink.
Spritzer Rouge (red wine + carbonated water)
"Spritzer Rouge" is made with wine and carbonated water. It is a red wine version of the white wine cocktail "Spritzer".
It has no sweetness, so it is also suitable as a drink with meals.
【material】
- Red wine…60ml
- Carbonated water...60ml
- ice
- Lemon, lime
【How to make】
- Pour red wine and soda into a glass filled with ice.
- Add sliced lemon or lime, mix lightly and it's done!
*You can make it with a 1:1 ratio of red wine and carbonated water.
Mmm, so refreshing and delicious! It really tone downs the bitterness of the red wine.
Adjust the amount of carbonation to your liking.
Kitty (red wine + ginger ale)
"Kitty" is a classic cocktail made with red wine and ginger ale.
This is a red wine version of "Operator," which is also made with white wine.
Try adding citrus fruits such as lemon and herbs. It will give your cocktail a unique accent and take it to the next level!
【material】
- Red wine…60ml
- Ginger ale…60ml
- ice
- Lemon, lime
- Herbs to taste
【How to make】
- Add red wine and ginger ale to a glass filled with ice and stir gently.
- Garnish with skewered lemon and lime and it's done!
*You can make this with a 1:1 ratio of red wine and ginger ale.
So lovely~ The colour is perfect!
It has a more mature taste than white, it's delicious!
Cardinal (red wine + cassis)
"Cardinal" is a cocktail made with red wine and cassis liqueur.
Many red wines contain the aroma of blackcurrant, so adding this liqueur will give you a richer aroma.
This cocktail, which brings out the aroma of red wine, is recommended for using cheap red wine or reviving red wine that is past its prime!
【material】
- Red wine…100ml
- 20ml creme de cassis
【How to make】
- Add the creme de cassis and red wine to the glass.
- Mix lightly and it's done!
Mmm, it's rich and has a great aroma!
It would be good with ice. It would also be delicious with soda!
This cocktail will make wine that has been opened for a while still taste good. Add blackcurrant to taste.
I think the rich and hearty Frontera goes better with Cardinal.
Calimocho (red wine + cola)
"Calimocho" is made with red wine and cola. Adding herbs and citrus fruits takes this cocktail to the next level.
Red wine and cola aren't very acidic, so adding lemon or lime will greatly expand the range of flavors.
【material】
- Red wine…60ml
- Cola…60ml
- ice
- Lemon, lime
- Herbs to taste
【How to make】
- Pour the red wine and cola into a glass filled with ice.
- Add the lemon slices and mix gently.
- Garnish with a lime skewer and it's done!
*You can make it with a 1:1 ratio of red wine and cola.
It feels like a tropical paradise! It's summer!
This is dangerous. I can gulp it down, it's dangerous.
If you just mix it with cola, it won't taste like this. By adding lemon, lime, herbs, etc., it becomes so delicious.
Above are some red wine-based cocktails.
The strength of red wine is easily reflected in cocktails, so if you like strong flavors, try Frontera, and if you want a lighter drink, try Yosemite!
summary
"Wine cocktails" are easy to drink even for those who don't like wine, and will satisfy wine lovers as well.
All of the recipes, including the "NZ Wine Cooler," are easier to make than regular cocktails, so I hope you'll find them more accessible.
Another attractive feature is that by diluting wine, you can adjust the alcohol content and sweetness, etc., so you can drink it according to your condition.
I think wine is best suited for cocktails in the first place .
Wine goes well with herbs, lemon, and carbonation, and has just the right amount of alcoholic flavor. By adding these ingredients, a synergistic effect is created, allowing you to enjoy a very rich flavor.
It is less sweet than the fruit liquor used in regular cocktails, so it also has the effect of reducing the sweetness of the juice.
My impression of wine cocktails has completely changed.
I also thought, "How dare you split a bottle of wine!", but there are many other things that add up to it.
I've totally fallen in love with wine cocktails!
Wine is truly great as it can be enjoyed in so many different ways!
It's perfect for special occasions such as parties and entertaining, but it's also highly recommended for when you want to indulge in some luxury time for yourself.
We hope you all enjoy making your own wine cocktails!
