Spiced Red Wine and Coke
This recipe creates a refreshing, spiced red wine and Coca-Cola cocktail. Dry red wine is gently simmered with aromatic spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom, then cooled and mixed with chilled cola. It's an easy-to-prepare, unique beverage perfect for entertaining, offering a delightful balance of fruity, spicy, and effervescent notes.
Equipment
- 1 Large Pot or Saucepan For simmering the wine and spices
- 1 Fine-mesh Sieve For straining out solids after infusion
- 1 Cutting Board
- 1 Chef's knife For slicing lemons and ginger
- 1 Large Pitcher or Punch Bowl For chilling and serving the finished drink
Ingredients
Main
- 2 large lemons sliced
- 2 3 " pieces ginger peeled, thinly sliced
- 6 2 "-long cinnamon sticks
- 6 cardamom pods lightly crushed
- ¼ tsp. kosher salt
- 2 750- ml bottles dry red wine
- 4 –6 12-oz. cans chilled Coca-Cola
- Lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
- Slice the lemons and peel and thinly slice the ginger; lightly crush the cardamom pods to expose the seeds.
- In a large pot, combine the sliced lemons, ginger, cinnamon sticks, crushed cardamom, and kosher salt.
- Pour the two bottles of dry red wine into the pot with the spices.
- Gently bring the mixture to a low simmer over medium-low heat, ensuring it does not boil to preserve the wine's integrity.
- Simmer the mixture for 10–15 minutes, allowing the spices to infuse deeply into the wine.
- Remove the pot from the heat and let the spiced wine cool down slightly at room temperature.
- Strain the cooled spiced wine through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean pitcher or container, discarding all solid ingredients.
- Chill the strained spiced wine thoroughly in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or until completely cold.
- When ready to serve, combine equal parts (or to taste) of the chilled spiced red wine with chilled Coca-Cola in individual serving glasses or a large punch bowl.
- Garnish each serving with a fresh lemon wedge and serve immediately.
Notes
For optimal spice infusion, gently crush the cardamom pods just before adding; avoid pulverizing. Choose a dry, fruit-forward red wine like a Grenache or Merlot that can stand up to the spices without becoming overly tannic or diluted. Simmer the wine and spices gently over low heat, ensuring it never boils, to properly extract flavors without losing the wine's nuances. Adjust simmering time to taste for desired spice intensity. Thoroughly chill the spiced wine concentrate before mixing with cold Coca-Cola to preserve the drink's effervescence and crispness. A vibrant lemon wedge garnish is essential for both presentation and a burst of fresh aroma.