I was at a local winery recently sampling a variety of their wines. I sipped one and wasn’t a fan and started to dump it out when the employee stopped me and said “Wait! Let me do something and have you try it again.” I watched as he poured a bit of another wine into the one I didn’t like and added a splash of another. He mixed it together and handed it back to me. Tentatively taking a sip I found it was delicious and exactly to my liking. My need for making wine cocktails was born and I knew it was something I would have fun creating. So, without further ado, here is two Voga wine cocktails that I created especially for you.

BERRY WINE COCKTAIL

This one takes a little more effort than just opening bottles and mixing together ingredients, but it’s worth the work. I made a berry simple syrup using blackberries and raspberries. After the simple syrup cooled down I mixed it with wine and vodka. I used Voga’s Dolce Rosso (provided to me by the good people at Voga) sweet red wine in this cocktail. As a stand along this is a great red wine, but used in a cocktail it takes it to a whole other level.

INGREDIENTS

1/3 cup blackberries
1/3 cup raspberries
1/3 cup water
3 teaspoons cane sugar
2 shots of Vodka
Voga Dolce Rosso Wine
Ice

DIRECTIONS

1. In a small saucepan combine the berries, water and sugar. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. As the berries cook mash them to release the juice. When the ingredients have reduced into a syrup remove from heat and let cool.

2. Pour half the syrup into a cocktail glass. Add a shot of vodka (or less, depending on your taste preference) and fill glass 2/3 full with wine. Stir, add ice, garnish with a blackberry and enjoy.

The simple syrup recipe makes enough for 2 cocktails.

RED WHITE AND BLUE WINE COCKTAIL

This cocktail is simple enough and easy to make for a crowd. I used Voga’s Pinot Grigio for this one and, if I have to pick a favorite, I would say this is the one although I do like them both.

INGREDIENTS

2 shots sweet tea vodka
1 shot vanilla vodka
Voga Pinot Grigio
Ginger Ale

DIRECTIONS

In a large wine glass pour a shot of sweet tea vodka and a 1/2 shot of vanilla vodka. Add Voga Pinto Grigio until the glass is 2/3 full. Pour in a splash of ginger ale. Mix well. Garnish with red and blue berries.

ENJOY!