Food Shopping and Storing Beverages 28 Wine Cocktails For Parties That Will Wow Your Guests Because wine isn’t just for sipping. By Samantha Leffler Samantha Leffler Samantha is the senior food editor at RealSimple and previously launched the US Weekly food vertical, where she wrote about the intersection of food and pop culture. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 16, 2024 Looking for a new drink to make for your next gathering? These wine cocktails are delicious and so easy to shake up. Wine, similar to other alcoholic beverages such as gin and tequila, can seamlessly and easily be mixed into a variety of festive cocktails. Spritzes, which are typically made with digestive bitters and soda water, often traditionally call for sparkling wine, while sangria is a beloved libation that usually combines wine (red, white, or rosé) with various fruit and fruit juices. Plus, wine drinks typically boast less alcohol by volume than say a martini or a margarita, which makes them an ideal choice for those looking to cut back on their alcohol consumption. Ready to have a bit more fun with a bottle of wine? Check out our roundup of wine cocktails for parties that you (and your guests) will love. 29 Cocktail and Spiked Punch Recipes Perfect for Any and Every Party 01 of 28 Rosé Cooler Fred Hardy Rosé wine, lemonade, and berries come together in this pre-batched cocktail that party-goers will love. If you’re looking for a more balanced drinking experience, shop for a bottle of light, dry rosé. This way, the wine will complement the lemonade and Campari instead of overpowering them. GET THE RECIPE 02 of 28 Stone Fruit Sangria Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Carla Gonzalez Hart Get out the pitcher: This stone fruit sangria serves up to six people, plus, you can make it up to a day ahead of your event for effortless entertaining. Fresh sliced nectarines, cherries, and plums mix with dry sparkling wine, citrusy orange liqueur, and a little bit of lime juice and mint sprigs for a refreshing drink you'll want to sip on all day. GET THE RECIPE 03 of 28 Red Wine Spritz Greg DuPree If you’re under the impression that red wine can’t be mixed into a cocktail, think again! Here, a dry, sparkling red wine (we like Lambrusco), is joined by sweet vermouth, club soda, and some fresh peach slices. The resulting drink is effervescent and fruity, but not overly sweet. GET THE RECIPE 04 of 28 Limoncello Spritz Greg DuPree Limoncello is an acquired taste, and even then the boozy lemon liqueur can still be too strong for some. If you think you can handle a more subdued version of the Italian drink, try this spritz. This recipe combines Limoncello with dry sparkling wine, club soda, and some fresh lemon juice, so you’ll still get plenty of that lemon flavor, but the alcohol won’t be quite so concentrated. GET THE RECIPE 05 of 28 Dirty Aperol Spritz Greg DuPree We likely all know how to make an Aperol spritz by now, so why not kick things up a notch with the dirty version? As you may have guessed, the “dirty” part is a hit of punchy olive brine, which is joined by Aperol, dry sparkling wine, and some club soda. For even more of those briney notes, garnish each cocktail with a few pimiento-stuffed green olives. GET THE RECIPE 06 of 28 Mango Bellini Spritz Greg DuPree When you’re planning the menu for your next brunch party, this fizzy drink better make the cut. Here, mango juice and Triple Sec are combined with dry sparkling wine and club soda for a fruity, bubbly drink that goes down really easily. GET THE RECIPE 07 of 28 Elderflower Spritz Greg DuPree If you’re looking for an easy-drinking spritz, this is the one for you. For this drink, which you can make in batches to serve a large group, you’ll combine elderflower liqueur, such as St.-Germain, with dry sparkling wine and club soda. The resulting cocktail is refreshing, crisp, and not too heavy on the booze. GET THE RECIPE 08 of 28 Lillet-Strawberry Spritz Greg DuPree Lillet is a French wine fortified with a blend of citrus liqueurs. In this summery recipe, the aperitif is joined by dry sparkling rosé, club soda, and fresh strawberries for garnish. Ideal for a picnic or outdoor dinner party, this drink is sure to satisfy your guests. GET THE RECIPE 09 of 28 Peach Bellini Knape/Getty Images This two-ingredient cocktail might just become your new favorite go-to when you're hosting brunch. You'll just need peach purée and prosecco to pull off this tasty Bellini. If you want to take this recipe up a notch, skip on the store-bought peach purée and make some yourself using fresh peaches. GET THE RECIPE 10 of 28 Negroni Sbagliato Getty Images Consider this drink a lighter take on a Negroni. In this recipe, you’ll use prosecco instead of gin, which makes the final product more fizzy and not as heavy on the alcohol. For the best results, use high-quality vermouth. GET THE RECIPE 11 of 28 Frozen Rosé Frosé bhofack2 It’s hard to escape summer without having a glass or two of frosé, especially if you’re partial to block parties and barbecues. To make this refreshing drink you’ll combine rosé, grenadine, and a shot of vodka with some strawberries and sugar for extra flavor. The berries also help give this cocktail its unmistakable pink hue. GET THE RECIPE 12 of 28 Chambord Royale A two-ingredient cocktail you can make with wine you likely already have at home? Tell us more. This pink drink, which is perfect for a Valentine’s or Galentine’s Day celebration, calls for Chambord—a raspberry liqueur—and plenty of Champagne or other sparkling white wine. Easy enough, right? GET THE RECIPE 13 of 28 Sparkling Amaretto Sour bhofack2/Getty Images If you’re an Amaretto sour fan, consider giving this variation of the well-known cocktail a whirl. Here, you’ll still find Amaretto liqueur, simple syrup, and lemon juice, but the addition of prosecco makes the final product wonderfully fizzy and not too sweet. Three cheers to that! GET THE RECIPE 25 Classic Cocktail Recipes Everyone Should Know 14 of 28 White Sangria Charles Maraia The wonderful thing about sangria is that you can generally make a pitcher with whatever wine and fresh fruit you have on hand. This version calls for white wine, club soda, and grape juice, along with fruit such as nectarine, tangerine, and plenty of green grapes. GET THE RECIPE 15 of 28 Red Sangria With Blackberries Maura McEvoy If you’re making sangria with red wine, you’ll want to choose fruits that are generally a bit heartier. In this case, that means blackberries, and navel orange segments, though blueberries and strawberries will also work well here. The optional hint of brandy gives the final product a pleasant warmth and depth of flavor. GET THE RECIPE 16 of 28 Champagne Cocktail No. 1 Jen Causey This fizzy drink starts off with a homemade raspberry and tangerine syrup, that adds so much fresh flavor in a short amount of time. Once you have chilled the syrup for at least two hours, you'll mix it with Lillet Rosé and Champagne and serve in a coupe glass. Be sure to reserve the tangerine peel to garnish the cocktail. GET THE RECIPE 17 of 28 Tarragon French 75 Victor Protasio This twist on a classy cocktail is the perfect start to a dinner party. Here, you’ll combine sparkling wine and lemon juice with plenty of cognac, which results in a warm, wintry take on the classic drink. And that’s not all! This take on a French 75 is infused with licorice-scented tarragon for a herby depth of flavor your guests will love. GET THE RECIPE 18 of 28 White Grapefruit-Ginger Spritz Christopher Testani This fizzy prosecco-based drink, which can be served as a punch to accommodate a crowd, utilizes classic fall flavors such as ginger and sprigs of thyme, making it an ideal fit for any fall parties or Halloween shindigs. For an extra impressive garnish that’s bound to impress your guests, adorn each glass with a perfectly cut grapefruit wedge. GET THE RECIPE 19 of 28 Sparkling Lemonade Mixed Drinks Greg DuPree One secret to creating delicious cocktails in a hurry is to use sparkling lemonade. The bubbly drink takes care of the soda water, sweetener, and citrusy element all in one go, and can also be combined with ingredients such as red wine or pomegranate juice to craft a tasty yet easy-to-make party drink. GET THE RECIPE 20 of 28 Pomegranate Royale Champagne Cocktail Fuzullhanum/Getty Images This libation, which can also be made into a batch cocktail, includes pomegranate juice, vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, and a splash of Champagne. Add Chambord or St. Germain—an elderflower liqueur—depending on your personal preference. GET THE RECIPE 21 of 28 Fall Cider Sangria Emma Darvick While combining apple cider and sangria may sound a little intense, we promise you it works. This drink, which is perfect to make ahead of time if you’re on hosting duty, calls for fresh fruit such as apple and pear slices, as well as apple brandy, white wine, and apple cider. It’s basically autumn in a glass. GET THE RECIPE 22 of 28 Holiday Punch Jennifer Causey This Caribbean-inspired punch recipe packs just the right amount of sweetness, and is the perfect way to kick off a festive meal. In this recipe, sweet pineapple juice and zesty lime juice are joined by three types of alcohol. You’ve got dark rum, which plays off the simple syrup, Campari, which adds a bitter touch for balance, and prosecco, which supplies a fun fizz. GET THE RECIPE 23 of 28 Bekaa Highball Jen Causey Frozen cotton candy grapes keep your glass chilled while adding a delicious crunch every other sip. Lillet Blanc and Champagne top this fruity drink for a bubbly beverage that will impress. This recipe comes from Chez Zou, a cocktail lounge in New York City. GET THE RECIPE 24 of 28 Sweet-and-Spicy Mulled Wine Greg DuPree If there’s one alcoholic beverage that signals the start of the winter holiday season, it’s mulled wine. While you can make mulled wine with, well, wine and an array of your favorite spices, it’s important to achieve a good balance of flavors. This recipe calls for a hearty dose of black peppercorns and spicy fresh ginger, which prevents the final result from being too sweet. GET THE RECIPE 25 of 28 El Versalles Passion Fruit Cocktail This pretty pink passion fruit cocktail works no matter what time of year it is. To make, just combine rum with raspberry and passion fruit puree, as well as Triple Sec, simple syrup, and sparkling wine. GET THE RECIPE 26 of 28 Plaza Champagne Punch Jen Causey If you're looking for an easy cocktail that will serve your entire party, this Plaza Champagne punch serves eight and just requires 10 minutes of prep. The drink comes straight from the Plaza Hotel in New York City, making your night a touch more elegant. Each glass gets garnished with a strawberry and a lemon round. GET THE RECIPE 27 of 28 Broken Valentine Passion Fruit Martini Passion fruit lends a sweet-tart, citrusy flavor to a classic martini recipe, while a quick pour of prosecco or other sparkling wine adds some much-needed fizz to the drink. GET THE RECIPE Ready to Upgrade Those Homemade Cocktails? Learn How to Infuse Alcohol 28 of 28 Cider Bellini Getty Images Tired of mimosas and peach bellinis with your brunch spread? Allow us to suggest this autumnal alternative that might just be tastier than those two choices. For this simple recipe, you’ll combine sparkling wine, like Champagne or prosecco, with your favorite apple cider. Garnish with an apple slice or a fresh rosemary sprig and you’re all set! GET THE RECIPE Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit