Wine isn’t just for pairing with cheese boards anymore. These 7 drinks take your red, white, or bubbly and crank the autumn dial to 11 with apple, pear, cranberry, and cinnamon. No shaker, no stress—just pour, stir, sip, repeat. Grab a bottle (cheap works) and let’s make fall taste expensive.
1. Spiced Red Wine Sangria (One-Pitcher Wonder)
Hook: Your book club just found its soulmate.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle cheap red wine (merlot, cab—whatever)
- 1 cup apple cider
- ¼ cup brandy
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 apple, sliced
- 1 orange, sliced
- 2 cinnamon sticks
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Dump everything in a pitcher.
- Stir, chill 1 hour (or pour now—zero rules).
- Serve over ice.
Why You’ll Love It
Fruity, spicy, serves a crowd. I made this for game night—empty pitcher, full hearts.
2. Mulled White Wine with Pear (Stove? Optional)
Hook: Pear walked in wearing cashmere.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle dry white wine (sauv blanc, pinot grigio)
- 1 pear, sliced
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 star anise
- 1 vanilla bean (or ½ tsp extract)
- Splash sparkling water
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Warm wine + pear + honey + spices on low 10 mins (don’t boil!).
- Strain into mugs or chill and top with bubbly water.
- Garnish with pear fan.
Why You’ll Love It
Light, aromatic, dangerously drinkable. Microwave version: 60 sec per mug—works.
3. Cranberry Prosecco Spritz (Thanksgiving’s Opening Act)
Hook: Bubbles meet tart—your turkey’s jealous
Ingredients
- 3 oz Prosecco
- 2 oz 100% cranberry juice
- 1 oz Aperol (or campari if you’re bitter)
- Club soda
- Frozen cranberries
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Fill wine glass with ice.
- Pour Prosecco, cranberry, Aperol.
- Top with soda, float cranberries.
Why You’ll Love It
Festive, fizzy, zero hangover. Swap Aperol for gin if you’re feeling chaotic.
4. Hot Spiced Rosé (Yes, Rosé in Fall—Fight Me)
Hook: Your summer fling just got a scarf.
Ingredients
- 6 oz rosé
- 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses (or 2 tbsp pom juice + 1 tsp sugar)
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 cloves
- Orange peel
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Warm rosé + pom + spices in mug (microwave 60 sec).
- Stir, express orange peel over top.
- Sip slow.
Why You’ll Love It
Pink, spicy, cozy AF. No molasses? Honey works—still slaps.
5. Apple Cider Mimosa Bar (Brunch’s MVP)
Hook: Build-your-own chaos, zero dishes.
Ingredients (per glass)
- 3 oz sparkling wine
- 3 oz fresh apple cider
- Splash caramel vodka (optional)
- Cinnamon sugar rim
- Apple slice
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Rim champagne flute with cider, dip in cinnamon sugar.
- Pour bubbly + cider.
- Add vodka if it’s that brunch.
Why You’ll Love It
Customizable, cute, gone fast. Kids get virgin—win win.
6. Fig & Rosemary Red Wine Spritzer
Hook: Figs and wine walk into a bar… and stay.
Ingredients
- 4 oz red wine
- 1 fresh fig (or 1 tsp fig jam)
- 1 sprig rosemary
- Club soda
- Ice
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Muddle fig + rosemary in glass.
- Add ice, pour wine.
- Top with soda, garnish.
Why You’ll Love It
Jammy, herby, light. No figs? Blackberry jam—rebel.
7. Smoky Red Wine Hot Chocolate (Adult S’mores, Duh)
Hook: Chocolate + wine = math I can get behind.
Ingredients
- 4 oz red wine
- 4 oz prepared hot chocolate
- Pinch smoked paprika
- Toasted marshmallow
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Make hot chocolate.
- Stir in wine + paprika.
Top with toasted marshmallow (microwave 10 sec).
Related Recipes:
- 12 Big-Batch Fall Cocktails | Easy Drinks for Autumn Parties
- 10 Dessert-Inspired Fall Cocktails to Savor
- 10 Hot Cocktails to Warm You Up This Winter
Why You’ll Love It
Rich, smoky, zero campfire. Paprika scares you? Skip it—still cozy.
There you have it—7 wine cocktails that scream fall louder than your neighbor’s leaf blower. Each one uses red, white, or bubbly as the base, then piles on apple, pear, cranberry, and cinnamon like it’s going out of style. Pick one, snap a pic, and tag me—I’m nosy and proud. Which are you pouring first?
