During the festive Christmas season – especially those meticulously planned gatherings – everyone has a specific role: there's someone in charge of aperitifs, someone handling the main courses, and someone else who needs to create delicious drinks to enchant the guests.
The task might prove challenging for those unfamiliar with the craft, but thanks to this guide, you can prepare excellent wine-based Christmas cocktails that are simple yet highly impressive!
The best Christmas cocktail recipes: why is wine the perfect ingredient?
Often, the world of wine and that of mixology are perceived as two distinctly separate realities. However, magic happens when the two meet, giving life to delicious wine-based cocktails.
Their success lies primarily in their accessibility. Thanks to a generally moderate alcohol content, they represent a less demanding alternative to classic long drinks, thus appealing even to those unaccustomed to cocktails.
This aspect, along with the organoleptic characteristics of the wines used, moreover, makes these products better suited to the elegance of festive occasions, as well as easy to pair throughout the meal, especially when the menus feature varied and often heavy preparations typical of Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
If you pair the label with the right spirit, you can create unforgettable wine pairings for Christmas, perfect for every occasion, from aperitif to dessert!
1. Christmas cocktails with red wine: Cardinal Punch
With its deep colour, Cardinal Punch will have no trouble finding a place of honour on the festive table. The credit for this chromatic intensity goes to its central ingredients: red wine, which simultaneously confers elegance and organoleptic complexity, and Crème de Cassis, the blackcurrant liqueur that amplifies the drink's fruity sensations without raising the alcohol content too much.
Similar to a Negroni, but decidedly lighter, Cardinal Punch is also extremely easy to prepare. In a pre-chilled old fashioned glass filled with ice, pour 30 ml of Crème de Cassis, then add a Shiraz 2020 up to the rim. This South African label, with its deep garnet colour, releases aromas of red fruits, berries, plums and spices. The fruity identity is echoed on the palate, accompanied by a spicy touch and a velvety tannic texture.
Full-bodied and assertive, this drink is perfect throughout Christmas Day lunch: it pairs beautifully with a generous platter of cold meats and mature cheeses, or with white meat mains, such as the classic roast turkey with cranberry sauce.
2. Christmas drinks with white wine: White Sangria
Christmas celebrations don't always go as planned: sometimes invitations get out of hand and you find yourself managing large groups. In contexts like these, preparing a couple of jugs of sangria is better than serving individual drinks for each guest.
For its elegant white version, you can use the Spanish wine "Bienbebido Pulpo" Albariño 2024. Fresh and fruity, it displays greenish hues in the glass and an intense bouquet of apple, lemon and lime, accompanied by mineral nuances also perceptible on the palate.
First, macerate the diced fruit (seasonal produce such as oranges, lemon, apples, pears, but also grapes, figs and pomegranate) with 30 g of sugar for a few hours. For a group of at least 6 people, then add 8 cl of brandy or cognac, 3-4 cl of Triple Sec and 1 l of wine, mixing well and chilling with ice.
Prawn skewers, cocktails, mini tacos, octopus salads and fried foods are wonderfully accompanied by this Christmas white sangria, fruity and citrus-forward, an excellent idea for a Christmas wine aperitif!
3. Rosé Paloma, a Christmas cocktail made with a rosé wine
Between the white of the snow and the profusion of red, green and gold decorations, there's always room for a bit of pink, especially when it comes to drinks. Rosés are excellent wines for Christmas cocktails, thanks to their aromatic profile, freshness and versatility, traits found in the Rosé Paloma.
This variation of the classic Paloma (a cocktail based on tequila, lime juice and grapefruit soda) substitutes the Mexican spirit with a good rosé, such as the elegant "Gassier" Côtes de Provence AOC Rosé 2024, a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Vermentino with a delicate peach-pink colour and intoxicating aromas of peach, pear and mandarin. The sip is lively and fresh, with hints of peaches, red fruits and yuzu.
To prepare the Rosé Paloma, pour 12 cl of wine into a glass and mix with 1.5 cl of fresh lime juice and 10 cl of grapefruit soda. Finally, garnish with a salt rim on half the glass and a slice of grapefruit.
The citrus and saline notes are perfect for standing up to ingredients or preparations with unctuous nuances, such as a Christmas fish dinner. It's excellent paired with savoury scones with smoked salmon and butter, salmon tartare with avocado, mackerel pâté, fish pie and smoked haddock served with a creamy sauce!
4. Winter Spritz, an original alternative for a sparkling wine drink
Evening aperitifs with friends, in the city centre or at seaside venues are now a distant memory, but this doesn't mean it's not possible to enjoy a delicious spritz even in the depths of the cold season. The risk of boring guests with the usual drink is soon averted, thanks to the winter version of this great classic.
The Winter Spritz revisits its predecessor with a touch of originality, whilst maintaining the star ingredient, Prosecco, specifically a "Strada di Guia 109" Valdobbiadene DOCG Extra Dry. The right measure for one serving is 6 cl, to be poured together with 3 cl of Limoncello, 1 cl of ginger syrup (or ginger beer) and 2 cl of tonic water into a chilled glass, then carefully mix. The result is a fresh, easy-drinking and appealing drink, elevated by the greenish hues of this Prosecco, its aromas of green apple, citrus, acacia blossom, bread and yeast and a lively, sharp and fruity taste.
Opting for a Prosecco cocktail for Christmas means being able to count on the versatility of this wine, especially with seafood dishes. For a bit of originality, it can also be uncorked during Oriental reinterpretations of Christmas dinners, for example with sushi, sashimi, prawn gyoza, fish curry or Teriyaki salmon.
5. Easy sweet wine cocktail recipes: Golden Ivy
However full the stomach may be, there's always a little space for traditional desserts, to perfectly conclude Christmas lunch or dinner. A spiced tart, gingerbread, a chocolate pudding or fruit-based desserts pair well with a drink like Golden Ivy, prepared with an after-dinner wine.
The perfect choice is a "Dindarello" Moscato Passito Veneto IGT 2024, with aromas of flowers and honey and well-balanced sweetness on the palate. To prepare it at home, simply pour 1.5 cl of it into a well-chilled Martini glass, followed by 6 cl of Cognac and 3 cl of cranberry juice. Not exactly a light drink, but one capable of perfectly concluding Christmas menus!
Have you been put in charge of preparing the drinks on Christmas Day? Fear not: with this guide and the finest wines in the Svinando catalogue, making a great impression is guaranteed!