Sips & Synopsis - This Weeks Makings

• Cocktails that start with wine

• Trivia Question

• Drink of the Week - The Red Wine Negroni

• Mocktail Moment: Concord Grape Shrub Sparkler

• Winemakers and Wine Cocktails

☀️ What’s in Your Glass This Week...

It’s grape harvest season, and while winemakers are busy picking and pressing, we’re raising a glass in our own way - with cocktails that start with wine and finish with chef’s kiss flair. Whether red, white, or bubbly, wine brings depth, flavor, and elegance to your glass. And these aren’t sangrias… they’re better.

✔️ 3 wine-based cocktails for fall sipping
✔️ 1 elegant zero-proof spritz for midday moods
✔️ A dive into winemakers and wine cocktails
✔️ Links for wine bar essentials
✔️ A quote and trivia to pair with your pour

Because harvest season isn’t just for the vineyard.

Trivia Question❓

What country is the world’s largest consumer of wine by volume?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter

🍷 Drink of the Week: The Red Wine Negroni

A moody, sophisticated twist on the classic Negroni - using red wine instead of gin. Perfect for early fall nights when you want richness without the booze punch.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz dry red wine (Cabernet, Syrah, or Tempranillo work great)

• 1 oz sweet vermouth

• 1 oz Campari

• Orange peel or dehydrated orange slice, for garnish

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice.

2. Stir for 20–30 seconds until chilled.

3. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube.

4. Garnish with orange peel.

Pro tip: Use a wine with structure - no fruit bombs or super jammy bottles.

Bonus Cocktails

1. Honey Sage White Wine Spritz

• 3 oz dry white wine (Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio)

• 0.5 oz honey syrup

• 2 fresh sage leaves

• 1 oz soda water

Directions:

1. Muddle sage with honey syrup in a shaker.

2. Add wine and ice. Shake lightly.

3. Strain into a wine glass with fresh ice.

4. Top with soda water and garnish with a fresh sage leaf.

2. Rosé Royale

• 3 oz dry rosé

• 0.5 oz elderflower liqueur (like St. Germain)

• Sparkling water to top

• Garnish: lemon twist

Directions:
Build directly in a chilled wine glass over ice. Stir gently, garnish, and serve.

Mocktail Moment: Concord Grape Shrub Sparkler

Tart, rich, and beautifully fall-forward, without the alcohol.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Concord grape shrub (or use high-quality grape juice with a dash of apple cider vinegar)

• 0.5 oz maple syrup

• Sparkling water to top

• Garnish: frozen grapes or rosemary sprig

Directions:
Shake shrub and maple syrup with ice. Strain into a coupe glass and top with sparkling water.

Winemakers and Wine Cocktails

You’d think it would be sacrilege - mixing wine with, well, anything. But some winemakers are actually huge supporters of wine-based cocktails. Why?

Because wine is nuanced. It has acidity, body, fruit, and texture. When used right, it brings a complexity to cocktails you can’t get from spirits alone.

It’s not uncommon to see white wine mojitos with fresh mint and peach or a Tinto de Verano which is a popular red wine cocktail in Spain, featuring fruity red wine and bubbly lemon soda poured over ice. So interesting, because it’s not just creative, it’s delicious.

So if you’ve got half a bottle of wine in the fridge, don’t just sip - stir. Your wine glass is ready to level up.

🛍️ Bar Cart Additions

• 🍷 Gold-Rimmed Wine Glass Set (Set of 4) – Stylish and durable for cocktails or pours

• 🍇 Silicone Wine Stoppers (Color-Coded) – For saving your half-bottle post-cocktail