25 Wine Cocktails To Shake Up A Happier Hour

In the states, people tend to scoff at the idea of mixing anything with wine (though we at Delish clearly do not, check out our red wine mules and Champagne margaritas). However, in the Basque region of Spain, they aren't only drinking sangria—in fact, mixing wine with soft drinks is somewhat of an obsession all over Spain. One of the most popular iterations is called Kalimotxo. All it takes to make a Kalimotxo is two ingredients: Coke and red wine. We know it might seem crazy, but this combo truly is something special.

Get the Kalimotxo recipe.

Our classic version of sangria is light and bubbly with an addition of seltzer water and the perfect ratio of wine to brandy. It's also perfect all year round: Skip the summer berries and swap in fall fruits like pears and apples to keep enjoying this summer classic whenever the craving strikes.

Get the Red Sangria recipe.

If you're a fan of refreshing, low-alcohol drinks like the ever-popular Aperol spritz, you're going to love this sweet and floral cocktail.

Get the St. Germain Spritz recipe.

There's no doubt about it—we're living in the year of the Negroni. But if you look closer at the lineage of everyone’s favorite viral drink, you’ll find that the Americano is just as sophisticated and even easier to make at home. It’s a simple drink with just three ingredients: Campari, club soda, and the best sweet vermouth you can find, topped with an orange slice. For those new to the world of Campari and vermouth-based cocktails, think of them as a pre-dinner beverage that'll pair perfectly with a romantic dinner. 😉

Get the Americano recipe.

Sure, there’s the tried-and-true margarita and the timeless Old Fashioned, but the French 75 has got what those two don’t: Champagne! Make sure to squeeze the lemon twist into your drink to add some of those floral lemon oils.

Get the French 75 recipe.

This punch is like a screwdriver but better, thanks to the addition of pineapple juice and vanilla vodka. It's great for cheers-ing over cinnamon rolls and breakfast strata during brunch (and is super-easy to throw together for a last-minute celebration too).

Get the Prosecco Punch recipe.

This festive sparkling drink is perfect for a low-key Easter cocktail hour. A sort of lightened-up mint julep, the addition of a dry sparkling wine provides a pleasant brightness and effervescence that plays well with the rich, caramelized tones of bourbon whiskey.

Get the Prosecco Mint Julep recipe.

Nothing kicks off brunch quite like a mimosa. If you prefer your cocktails on the sweeter side, bump up the orange juice to 3 ounces per glass, or go for a sweeter bottle of bubbly. To play up the orange flavor, try adding a dash of orange liqueur, such as Grand Marnier or Cointreau, or a few dashes of orange bitters.

Get the Classic Mimosa recipe.

Aperol is a bright red amaro made with flavorful, herbal ingredients that give it a distinct taste that might remind you of burnt orange and tart rhubarb. After hearing those flavor notes, it's probably immediately obvious why, when paired with Prosecco and a bit of soda water, it makes an amazing cocktail to drink for spring.

Get the Aperol Spritz recipe.

If you can get your hands on some super-ripe peaches, taste your puree before adding honey—it might be sweet enough already! If not, adding some orange zest will help coax out the sweetness even more.

Get the Vanilla-Peach Bellinis recipe.

Hack alert: We love saving leftover red wine by freezing it in an ice cube tray, then blending it up into a slushie. More of a white wine or moscato sangria person? We got you.

Get the Sangria Slushies recipe.

Wine lovers will absolutely love these margarita slushies because of the tasty addition of sweet moscato. Simply combine all ingredients and blend 'em up! You can make this as frozen or as loose as you want, based on how much ice you use. We love garnishing these with blueberries in the summer (particularly to keep with the bright blue theme), but use whatever fruit you like.

Get the Frozen Blue Moscato Margaritas recipe.

There are few cocktails more storied (or simple!) than the Manhattan. First stirred up in 1894 by a bartender at New York City's Waldorf Astoria, the defining characteristic is that it uses Scotch whiskey and vermouth, which is a type of aromatized fortified wine. Change up your bitters with a few dashes of walnut, lavender, or black cherry for a fun twist.

Get the Classic Manhattan recipe.

Something about the bittersweet, botanical flavors of the Negroni make us feel like we're on vacation. This classic Italian cocktail amps up the notes of juniper in gin with sweet vermouth (a type of fortified wine) and herbaceous Campari. The best part? No crazy ratios to memorize. Just stir equal parts of all three and that’s it!

Get the Negroni recipe.

Just three simple ingredients are in this classic cocktail. Quality vodka and vermouth (a type of fortified wine) are key here—since they make up the drink, the cheap stuff just won't do. (You can save that for our peanut butter cup martini 😂).

Get the Classic Vodka Martini recipe.

Layering fruit in the glasses makes for the prettiest sangria presentation. If you don't want to bother, add it to the pitcher—the sangria will still be pretty as hell.

Get the Rainbow Sangria recipe.

Margaritas get instantly better when blended with moscato and strawberries. If you want even more moscato, then you gotta try our moscato sangria next.

Get the Moscato Margaritas recipe.

While it's more common in Spain to find red wine sangria, we love this lighter (both in color and on the palette) alternative to the original. This easy white-wine sangria recipe takes well to any fruit (so feel free to add your fave seasonal options). To make things even better, they get soaked in Grand Marnier (the orange liqueur often used in margaritas) too.

Get the White Sangria recipe.

The Circle fans—here's your chance to make Chloe's go-to cocktail. Passion fruit is delicious and worth tracking down; keep your eyes peeled for them at your local specialty and global grocery stores.

Get the Porn Star Martinis recipe.

This is basically a Prosecco version of a granita. Though it takes some planning ahead, it requires zero effort once you have your frozen base ready. Trust, you're going to want some in the freezer at all times this summer.

Get the Frozen Prosecco recipe.