Vintage Cellars

Two Wine-Based Cocktails Worth Cracking a Bottle for

Seeing good wine go to waste is our version of sacrilege — and that includes letting a glass and a half sit in the bottle untouched for a fortnight before you decide to finally pour it down the sink — which is why we prefer to turn our leftover drops into something exciting.


The wine-based cocktail is a ridiculously easy (and delicious) way to use up leftover wine, and there are plenty of ways to put that glass and a half to good use. Sangria is the Spaniard’s way of repurposing red wine, while the Italians pour their Prosecco into Aperol, Campari or Bicicletta spritzes. In fact, the wine-based cocktail can be so good, you might find yourself cracking a bottle especially to make one. Below, find two cocktails that’ll turn leftover drops into the stars of the show: a warming spritz and a cocktail bar classic with a twist. 

New York Sour

Ingredients (serves 1)

60mL Whistle Pig 10YO Straight Rye Whiskey

30mL freshly squeezed lemon juice

20mL simple syrup

1 egg white or a few drops of Wonderfoam 

Ice cubes

15mL Rapaura Springs Reserve Pinot Noir

Method

1. Place whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white (or Wonderfoam) into a shaker with ice cubes. 

2. Shake hard to chill, then strain into a cocktail glass. 

3. Pour the red wine carefully over the top of the cocktail so it remains afloat. 

4. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and lemon twist. 

Apple Cider Spritz

Ingredients (serves 1)

90mL Mr Finch Apple Cider 

30mL Aperol Aperitivo

1 pinch of cinnamon

90mL Postcards from Italy Prosecco DOC

Ice cubes and thinly sliced apple, to garnish

Method

1. Combine apple cider, Aperol and cinnamon in an ice-filled glass and stir to combine.

2. Top with Prosecco and garnish with fresh apple slices and a cinnamon stick.