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New Year&#39;s Eve is synonymous with champagne toasts at midnight. But if bubbles are not your thing, try these fun, festive cocktails that will have your guests raving about your party long into 2024. Here are five delicious and easy-to-make drinks that will add a splash of color and creativity to your New Year&#39;s celebration.

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1. Cranberry Mimosas:

Start off by putting a winter spin on an old brunch favorite - mimosas! This drink combines cranberry juice, orange liqueur, and sparkling wine for a sweet-tart cocktail perfect for any celebration.

Ingredients:

- 1 cup cranberry juice

- 1 cup orange liqueur (like Grand Marnier)

- 4 cups chilled sparkling wine

- Fresh cranberries and rosemary sprigs for garnish

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Pour equal parts cranberry juice and orange liqueur into each glass (about half full). Top it off with sparkling wine until full. Garnish each glass with fresh cranberries on a toothpick or skewer along with a sprig of rosemary.

2. Winter White Cosmopolitan:

This elegant drink brings together white cranberry juice, vodka, Cointreau, lime juice, all topped off with frozen cranberries &ndash; making it as beautiful as it is tasty!

Ingredients:

- 4 oz vodka

- 2 oz Cointreau

- Juice from one lime

- White Cranberry Juice

-Frozen Cranberries

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Combine vodka, Cointreau and lime juice in shaker filled halfway with ice; shake well until mixed thoroughly then strain into martini glasses leaving room at top for white cranberry juice fill-up before adding frozen berries as garnishing touch.

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3. Sparkling Pear Prosecco Punch:

A fruity delight which includes pear nectar, ginger ale, and Prosecco for a refreshing yet festive drink.

Ingredients:

- 3 cups pear nectar

- 2 cups ginger ale

- 1 bottle of chilled Prosecco

- Pear slices for garnish

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In a large pitcher or punch bowl, combine the pear nectar and ginger ale. Slowly add the Prosecco while stirring gently to mix. Serve in champagne flutes with a slice of fresh pear as garnish.

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4. Pomegranate Mojito:

A New Year&#39;s twist on this classic Cuban cocktail - pomegranate mojitos are sweet, tart and absolutely delicious!

Ingredients:

- Fresh mint leaves

- Lime wedges

- Sugar

-Pomegranate juice

-Rum

-Soda water

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Muddle together mint leaves with lime wedge and sugar at bottom of glass until fragrant then fill up half way using ice cubes before adding equal parts pomegranate juice &amp; rum; top off soda water stir well before serving.

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5. Raspberry Cream Mimosa:

This creamy concoction is perfect for those who prefer their cocktails on the sweeter side. It combines raspberry sorbet with heavy cream and champagne to create an indulgent treat that doubles as dessert!

Ingredients:

-Raspberry Sorbet

-Chilled Champagne or Sparkling Wine

-A splash of Heavy Cream

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Place two scoops of raspberry sorbet into each glass followed by a splash of heavy cream then slowly pour over chilled champagne or sparkling wine till full.

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So why not shake things up this New Year&rsquo;s Eve? These festive cocktails will surely bring cheer to your celebration &ndash; here&rsquo;s to new traditions! #Cheers #Drinkwhatyoulove

New Year's Eve is synonymous with champagne toasts at midnight. But if bubbles are not your thing, try these fun, festive cocktails that will have your guests raving about your party long into 2024. Here are five delicious and easy-to-make drinks that will add a splash of color and creativity to your New Year's celebration.

Ring in the New Year with Festive Cocktails: A Twist on Traditional Celebrations

Bordeaux is a name synonymous with some of the world's most prestigious red wines, but its white wines, particularly Bordeaux Blanc, often fly under the radar. While the reds of this region have garnered international fame, Bordeaux Blanc wines, crafted primarily from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Muscadelle grapes, are some of the wine world's best-kept secrets. These wines offer an elegant balance of freshness, complexity, and aging potential that can rival the finest whites from anywhere in the world.

Bordeaux Blanc: An Underappreciated Gem of the Wine World

As the sun shines brighter and the days grow longer, our palates yearn for refreshing beverages that embody the essence of summer. For those new to the world of wine, choosing between cider, orange wine, and rosé can be a delightful journey. Each offers unique flavors and experiences perfect for warm weather sipping. In this article, we’ll explore three standout choices: Wolffer Dry Cider No. 139, Cune Viña Rosado 2023, and Spiritus Terrae Malvasia Orange 2021.

Savoring Summer: The Best Rosé Drink Choices from Cider-Orange-Rosé for Beginners

Navigating the wine list at a restaurant can be a daunting task, as many wine lovers have experienced. In our previous article on the tension of ordering wine at restaurants, we discussed this issue and shared some tips to help ease the process. However, one CorkRules user has recently encountered a situation that highlights just how challenging it can be.

The Switch? – #restaurantfail #winelistfail

Memorial Day weekend signals the official kick-off to summer, and what better way to celebrate than a backyard barbecue with friends and family? But for the wine lovers out there, the usual pairing of burgers and beer can feel a little, well, uninspired.

Fear not, fellow geeks! Let's ditch the predictable and dive into three exciting wine options that will have you sipping and savoring alongside the sizzling BBQ.

Memorial Day BBQ Bash: 3 Wines to Geek Out Over (While Grilling)

What is the right price for a bottle of wine at a restaurant? Wine pricing at restaurants is a hot topic of late but has many complexities. Let's dig into it and better understand the issues and some potential solutions.

The tension around wine pricing at restaurants?

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a name that resonates with prestige and quality in the world of wine. This illustrious appellation is steeped in history dating back centuries and has been producing some of France's most celebrated wines for generations.



Nestled within the southern region of Rhône Valley, France lies Châteauneuf-du-Pape - translated as "the Pope's new castle". The area earned its moniker during the 14th century when it served as a summer residence for Popes who sought refuge from political turmoil in Rome.

The Rich History of Châteauneuf-du-Pape highlighting some great value wines

In the world of wine and food, we often find ourselves ensnared by ratings, stars, points – an endless parade of numbers that dictate our choices. We chase after high-rated wines or Michelin-starred restaurants with fervor only to be met with experiences that seldom live up to their lofty reputations. But amidst this whirlwind pursuit for perfection lies a simple truth - what truly makes wine and food special are not scores or accolades but pure experiences crafted from love.

The Serendipity of Experiences in Wine and Food

The world of sparkling wine is a vast one. While champagne has long been the reigning king, there's another contender that’s not only equally delicious but also offers great value for money - Cremant.

Cremant vs Champagne: The real deal for bubbles.

Omakase is experiencing a surge in popularity, let’s dig into what it is and of course what wines to drink.



 Omakase, a term that translates to "I'll leave it up to you" in Japanese, is rapidly gaining popularity in the culinary world. This dining experience places your meal entirely in the hands of the chef, who meticulously crafts each course based on seasonal ingredients and their personal creative flair. It's not just about seafood; while sushi often features prominently due to its status as a cornerstone of Japanese cuisine, an omakase menu can include anything from Wagyu beef to seasonal vegetables.

Omakase and Wine Pairing: A Booming Gastronomic Journey

Grace Hood

STK

RT: Hello and Welcome to CorkRules! A podcast where, in each episode, we will review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier. Hello Grace, it&rsquo;s great to have you!

GH: Hey hey Robert happy to be here as always

RT: Before we jump in, let&rsquo;s talk about CorkRules. We created CorkRules to demystify wine lists because we know from experience, that sometimes when we get that list handed to us, well&hellip; it can be intimidating, and even a little daunting. Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, or value wines or that special bottle that will take your dining experience over the top. So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list. So, Grace today we are chatting about STK - what are your initial thoughts?

GH: Yeah, so STK is one of these modern restaurant concepts that has really taken off. You can find STK&rsquo;s in a lot of major metropolises, kind of like a hipper version of Fleming&rsquo;s, no offense to Fleming&rsquo;s of course - great happy hour!

RT: Hhahaha I totally get what you&rsquo;re saying. So where would you start us?

GH: So, they have a lot of classic producers, pretty standard for steak houses. They have some personal favorites of mine on there as well. On the white side, if you&rsquo;re looking for something light, I would go with the Cape Mentelle Sauvignon Blanc. I first had that about 10 years ago and was blown away by how much it tasted like a white Bordeaux, which arguably makes some of the finest sauv blanc in the world. Aromatic and crispy and super delicious. If you wanted a heavier style white, my choice is the chardonnay from Domaine Drouhin Oregon, or DDO as it&rsquo;s known in the industry. The Drouhins have been making wine in Burgundy forever and the daughter of the family, Veronique, is now the winemaker of their facility in Oregon. I got to meet her a few years ago and spoke perfect French to her and was just like &ldquo;yessss nailed it&rdquo; hahah

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RT: Ah oui oui madame! Love that story. Where would you steer us when it comes to reds?

GH: Oooo they have a nice red selection - lots of well-known producers, which ya know can sometimes be a relief for some people! sometimes you just don&rsquo;t want to have to go hunting on the wine list for something you&rsquo;d like to drink - sometimes you just want to see a name you know you love, order it and enjoy it, ya know? For me personally, that would be the Faust cabernet from Napa. Now usually I am not a Napa cab girl, but this was poured for me a few years ago by an advanced sommelier friend who knew I have a preference for French cab, and let me tell you he did not disappoint. Even though this cab is grown in Napa, it drinks like a French Bordeaux. It&rsquo;s still big and bold but soft and lush and just divine. I almost always order it if I see it on a menu. And then another good favorite red was on the STK menu - Numanthia, a juicy thick rich red from Spain. The bottle itself is super heavy as well so you know you&rsquo;re about to get a decadent experience in your glass.

RT: ooooo yum I love those two producers as well. Is it too early to pour a glass?

GH: You&rsquo;re not drinking already Robert? Isn&rsquo;t it 5 o clock in New York?

RT: Work first, wine later as we both say hahaha now what are we thinking for some value wines?

GH: For affordable white, I would do the Albarino from Martin Codax - cripsy, oceanic, refreshing. and for red I would pick the 2017 Provence merlot - now I know in the movie sideways, Paul Giama said he&rsquo;s not drinking any friggin&rsquo; merlot, but with all respect, merlot is absolutely delish, especially from Napa. I actually prefer Napa merlots over Napa cabernets! Don&rsquo;t snap at me I don&rsquo;t want to hear it hahah

RT: Can&rsquo;t wait to see the comments section for this one! Hahaha I kid I kid. What would be your pics for those high-ticket items Grace?

GH: Well, I mean, if you&rsquo;ve got Krug on the menu, it&rsquo;s a no-brainer. Krug is one of the most legendary champagne producers, and has one of the richer more lush mouth feels when it comes to champagne. And then I&rsquo;m gonna switch up the game here and recommend a large format bottle! They have a 2011 Belle Glos pinot from Sonoma, and that baby is ready to drink!

RT: Amazing! Thank you so much Grace for helping us navigate the STK wine list.

To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules. If you would like us to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us email to: Info@corkrules.com or visit our web website where we have a request form available and we will do our best to get it in the queue as quickly as possible. We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please check out our website for other episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists. Follow us on social media @corkrules and @wineswithgrace.

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

Thank you.

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End

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Wine Pairing, Wine Sommelier, Italian Red Wine, Wine Recommendations, Wine Varietels, Wine Tips, italian white wine, Best wine for beginners, Italian sparkling wine, Discovery wines

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