Go-To Cocktails To Mix Up With Your Bargain Wines

Did you find a great bargain on wine? If so, we can't blame you for stocking up. Mind you, purchasing wines you've never tried comes with some risk. You may open that bottle to discover it's not as palatable as you'd hope. Perhaps the wine is overly sweet or acidic, or so watered down it lacks flavor at all. So what should you do with the remainder of the bottle?

Truthfully, life's too short to drink bad wine — but that doesn't mean you should let those bargain bottles go to waste! Instead of tossing them down the drain, put that not-so-wonderful wine to good use by mixing it into a cocktail. After all, sipping wine should be enjoyable and if a wine can't hold its own, extra ingredients will balance the flavors. However, mixing the right cocktail is a skill and to discover the best recipes, we turned to Lexi Stephens, Sommelier and Owner of Lexi's Wine List.

Stephens understands the difference between cheap wines and value wines but also gets that, sometimes, people make mistakes. So if you've purchased a mediocre red, Stephens recommends using it in a "tinto de verano, which is a Spanish wine cocktail that involves red wine and Sprite." For a winter-friendly beverage, she notes that "mulled wine is great during the colder months." Luckily, this mulled wine recipe is strong and spiced, which is bound to enhance any bargain wine.

While Stephens is a fan of tinto de verano, it's not the only Spanish wine-based cocktail. Spanish sangria, which can be made with either red or white wine, is another refreshing summer option. Have some white wine sitting around? Try making this bright citrusy white sangria. It's simple to prepare and a crowd-pleaser — plus it's a great way to use up extra fruit.

Looking for ways to use sparkling wine in cocktails? Stephens shares two tasty options. "My go-to wine cocktails are Aperol spritz and Hugo spritz." A classic Aperol spritz is perfect for those who love bitter flavors while the Hugo Spritz, which uses elderflower liquor instead of Aperol, offers lighter, herbal notes. Both are incredibly easy to make and require minimal ingredients. But the best part? As Lexi explains, "You can easily use an affordable Prosecco for these cocktails and they'll still taste great."