Top 5 wine cocktails for this summer

Wine-based cocktails: 5 trending recipes for summer

Here are 5 trending cocktails made with wine to sip throughout the summer.

1. The Spritz

At the first sign of sunshine, Paris café terraces fill up with a fizzy orange cocktail that comes from Italy but was actually invented by Austrians: the Spritz. Made with Prosecco (Italian sparkling wine) or sparkling white wine, it is mixed with Campari or Aperol (an orange-flavoured bitter liqueur) and sparkling water.

Its history dates back to the 19th century, when Austrian soldiers occupying Venice found Italian wines too strong for their taste and ordered them to be splashed (spritzen in German) with sparkling water. That simple gesture gave birth to one of the world's most popular cocktails.

2. The Bellini

Refined and sweet, the Bellini is one of the most elegant and celebrated wine-based cocktails. The traditional recipe calls for Champagne or Prosecco, peach purée, fruit skewers and a few citrus slices. This Italian cocktail was invented in Venice in the 1940s in homage to the painter Giovanni Bellini.

3. Sangria Rosa

You are probably familiar with sangria, the Spanish wine-and-fruit cocktail. If you are a rosé wine enthusiast, this rosé sangria will win you over. Often made with Cabernet d'Anjou or Languedoc rosé, it is combined with a small measure of cognac and red fruits such as strawberries, cherries, peaches and a hint of cinnamon.

4. The Beaujolais Playa

Here is an original cocktail you may not know: the Beaujolais Playa. This inventive drink combines the terroir flavours of Beaujolais with tropical notes: Beaujolais red wine, blackberry liqueur, banana juice and pineapple juice. Surprising as it may sound, it is wonderfully refreshing over crushed ice.

5. The Claret Cobbler

To finish, here is another original cocktail made with red wine: the Claret Cobbler. As the name suggests, it features Clairet (Claret in English), the quintessential rosé-style wine of Bordeaux. Its recipe is similar to the Beaujolais Playa but slightly less exotic: Clairet, lemon juice, sparkling water and caster sugar.

Frequently asked questions - wine-based cocktails

What is the origin of the Spritz ?

The Spritz has a surprising origin: it is said to have been invented in the 19th century by Austrian soldiers occupying Venice. Finding Italian wines too strong, they asked for them to be splashed (spritzen in German) with sparkling water. That simple gesture gave birth to one of the world's most popular cocktails, today made with Prosecco, Aperol and sparkling water.

Can I make a Bellini with Champagne ?

Yes, the original Bellini recipe used Prosecco, but many variations replace it with brut Champagne for a more elegant result. A Burgundy or Alsace Crémant is also an excellent alternative. The key is to choose a brut sparkling wine to balance the sweetness of the peach purée.

Which wine should I use for a rosé sangria ?

For a successful rosé sangria, choose a generous, fruity rosé rather than a pale, mineral Provence rosé (which would lack body). A Cabernet d'Anjou, a Languedoc rosé or a South-West rosé with some substance will better hold the red fruit aromas. Avoid very dry rosés that would lose their identity in the mix.

What is Bordeaux Clairet?

Clairet is a Bordeaux wine with a very pale red robe, somewhere between a deep rosé and a light red. It is one of Bordeaux's oldest wine styles, greatly appreciated in the Middle Ages by the English who called it "Claret". Made from Merlot and Cabernet Franc, it offers an intense robe and fruity aromas, ideal for cocktails like the Claret Cobbler.

What is the difference between a Spritz and an Aperol Spritz ?

An Aperol Spritz is a specific version of the Spritz that uses Aperol as the bitter base, it is now the most widespread version worldwide. The Spritz in the broader sense refers to any cocktail made with sparkling wine and a bitter: it can be made with Campari (more bitter and robust), Select (the original Venetian version) or other regional bitters. An Aperol Spritz is therefore a Spritz, but not all Spritzes are Aperol Spritzes.

How do I measure wine in a cocktail ?

In a wine-based cocktail, the wine typically accounts for 50 to 70% of the total volume to remain the dominant ingredient. For a Spritz: 60% Prosecco / 30% Aperol / 10% sparkling water. For a sangria: approximately 60% wine. The golden rule: the wine should still be recognisable in the final taste.

From the Spritz born in Venice to the tropical Beaujolais Playa, wine-based cocktails offer a creative and festive way to discover French wines. On Avenue des Vins, find all the wines you need to make these recipes, directly at estate price.