Hello, fellow CorkRulers! As the holiday season approaches, it&#39;s time to dust off your cocktail shakers and wine glasses. Whether you&#39;re hosting a small gathering or simply enjoying a quiet evening by the fire, we&#39;ve got you covered with some fun and festive wine-based cocktails. From spritz to negroni, champagne to ros&eacute; fros&eacute;, let&#39;s dive into the merry world of holiday libations!

1. Aperol Spritz

Let&#39;s start with a classic Italian cocktail, the Aperol Spritz. This vibrant orange drink is a perfect aperitif to kickstart your holiday celebrations.

Ingredients:

- 3 parts Prosecco

- 2 parts Aperol

- 1 part soda water

- Orange slice, for garnish

Instructions:

Fill a wine glass with ice, pour in the Prosecco, followed by the Aperol. Add a splash of soda water and garnish with an orange slice. Simple, yet delicious!

2. Negroni Sbagliato&nbsp;

Next up is the Negroni, a sophisticated cocktail with a bittersweet twist. This ruby-red concoction is sure to warm you up on a chilly winter night.&nbsp;

Ingredients:&nbsp;

- 1 part sparkling wine or prosecco&nbsp;

- 1 part Campari&nbsp;

- 1 part sweet vermouth&nbsp;

- Orange peel, for garnish&nbsp;

Instructions:

Stir the gin, Campari, and vermouth in a mixing glass with ice. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice and garnish with an orange peel. Cheers to that!

3. Champagne Cocktail

No holiday celebration is complete without a bit of sparkle! This classic Champagne cocktail is a timeless choice for any festive occasion.

Ingredients:

- 1 sugar cube

- 2-3 dashes of Angostura bitters

- Champagne

- Lemon twist, for garnish

Instructions:

Soak the sugar cube in Angostura bitters and drop it into a Champagne flute. Fill the glass with Champagne and garnish with a lemon twist. Let the celebrations begin!

4. Ros&eacute; Fros&eacute;

Last but not least, let&#39;s shake things up with a frozen delight - the Ros&eacute; Fros&eacute;. This icy cocktail is a fun and refreshing twist on traditional ros&eacute; wine.

Ingredients:

- 1 bottle of ros&eacute; wine

- 2 cups of strawberries

- 1 tablespoon of sugar

- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice

Instructions:

Pour the ros&eacute; into ice cube trays and freeze until solid. Blend the strawberries and sugar in a blender until smooth, then add the ros&eacute; cubes and lemon juice. Blend until it&#39;s slushy and serve immediately. It&#39;s a froz&eacute; kind of holiday!

So, there you have it, wine lovers! Four fantastic wine-based cocktails to brighten up your holiday season. Remember, the key to a great cocktail is not just the ingredients, but also the company you share it with. So, raise a glass, share a toast, and enjoy these festive drinks with your loved ones. Happy holidays!

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Hello, fellow CorkRulers! As the holiday season approaches, it's time to dust off your cocktail shakers and wine glasses. Whether you're hosting a small gathering or simply enjoying a quiet evening by the fire, we've got you covered with some fun and festive wine-based cocktails. From spritz to negroni, champagne to rosé frosé, let's dive into the merry world of holiday libations!

Celebrate the Holidays with Wine-Based Cocktails: A Fun Guide

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

California Chardonnay: it's a name synonymous with sunshine, buttery richness, and maybe even a splash of white wine envy (looking at you, Bridget Jones). But how did this grape, originally hailing from France, become a Californian icon? Buckle up, because we're diving into the world of CA Chard, from its unexpected origins to the reasons it continues to reign supreme on wine lists.

Buckle up, because we're diving into the world of CA Chard!

Forget everything you think you know about sweet, syrupy wines. Lambrusco is a sparkling red wine from Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region that’s as light and bubbly as a summer day.

Lambrusco: The Party in a Bottle You Need to Try under $25

Cecconi's

Cecilia Bonet

Ceconni's Dumbo

CECCONI&rsquo;S DUMBO 

An Italian Eatery in Brooklyn with great views of NYC

Top Level View

Cecconi&rsquo;s Dumbo has a short, easy reading wine list, which will make it easier to choose a wine. They present a nice offer of aperitifs to start with, refreshing house tonics and some beers, but their excellence are the Italian wines and twenty-two references by the glass to choose from.

Unique Stuff

Before starting to eat, Italians have the custom of beginning with an aperitif. A high acidity, as well as a bitter base, are the characteristics that an aperitif must have to whet our appetite.

To do so, we can start with a Classic Negroni or a glass of the 2020 Piedmontese Gavi di Gavi, it is always crispy, citrusy, and very elegant. The Broglia winery has the oldest vineyards of the Gavi region, dating from 972 AD.

Going for a bottle, I would suggest the Far Niente Estate 2019 Chardonnay. This Chardonnay has earned its reputation as one of the great white wines worthy of aging. The Coombsville vineyards protected by the hills east of downtown Napa are home to this wine. They&rsquo;re cool with deeper soils of gravel and volcanic ash, giving the wine a bright acidity, tones of crisp citrus and green apple, well complemented with the spicy oak.

Wonderfully paired with their Kale Pesto Fusilli or the Salmon with broccolini.

Value Wines

I&rsquo;d love to recommend the 2016 Barolo by Cascina del Torcc, paired with their Filet mignon, potatoes and mushroom sauce.

Barolo is the king of Italian wines which grows in the heart of the Piemonte region, north of Italy. Here the grape is Nebbiolo develops wonderfully, giving a multilayered experience of sour and black cherries, cigar box, and violets, with a firm structure and tannins that will cleanse your palate after every bite.

2016 was actually a pretty good year for Barolo!

Bigger budget/Special Occasion

A great white wine for a special occasion would be the 2019 Chardonnay Les Noisetiers, from the emblematic Kistler winery. &nbsp;Kistler Vineyards remains one of the absolute benchmark producers of great Sonoma Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

This is a delicious wine full of complexity, with lemon, honeysuckle and stone fruits notes, that enjoys a full body structure with a mouthwatering mineral backbone. And let me say that this minerality, more likely find in Burgundy, is rare in new world Chardonnay.

A perfect pairing with the Agnolotti del Plin with sage brown butter and Parmigiano.

On the other hand, if your goal is a red one, our Bigger Budget wine is the Chateau Pontet-Canet, produced in Pauillac, left bank of the Girone river in Bordeaux, France. The 2005 vintage is definitely a Pauillac year.

With incredible silky tannins and perfect balance, this has everything you could ever want from a Bordeaux wine. Creamy blackberries, earth, graphite, and saddle leather notes all emerge from this wonderful wine. Tasting this wine is one of those unique experiences in life.

I would enjoy it with the Cavatelli Lamb Ragu with Fava Beans.

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BRAT

Bocca di Lupe

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Alba

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Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

La Fontana is a family-owned winery located in the heart of Rias Baixas, Spain. With a focus on sustainable viticulture and winemaking practices, they produce some of the finest Albariño wines in the region.

Colorful plates of Thai standards are thoughtfully presented in a basic room with informal decor.

Krasi

Sazon

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Helm Oyster Bar & Bistro

Helm Oyster Bar and Bistro

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Ledger

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homepage

CorkRules application allows you to discover wines at your favorite restaurants, learn with friends and be confident with price transparency. Order wine with confidence at restaurants and retailers. Get personalized recommendations. #DrinkWhatYouLove

Celebrate the Holidays with Wine-Based Cocktails: A Fun Guide

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