Wine Tips: Winter Sangria

If there's one thing to enjoy about winter (aside from creating a fire-breathing snowman video and posting it on YouTube), it's gathering with friends inside and consuming the kinds of foods and beverages that are mostly off-limits during the summer months.

Since winter get-togethers often lead to having some leftover red wine, we recommend using the last pour to make yourself a glass of Claret Punch the day after the party. This is an easy-to-make, tasty cocktail that packs a punch (sorry, we couldn't resist). Think of this as the winter version of Sangria. Here's how to make the drink:

Ingredients:
• 6 ounces red Bordeaux (or other Cabernet/Merlot blend)
• Splash of sherry
• Splash of Grand Marnier
• 1 teaspoon confectioners' sugar or simple syrup
• Slice of orange
• Slice of lemon

Instructions:
Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour, unstrained, into a tall glass. Serve it with a straw. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

If you're having a party and want to make a full recipe in a punchbowl, use the entire bottle of wine, a couple generous pours of the sherry and Grand Marnier, and add the sugar to taste. You can also extend the volume and give the punch a little bit of a kick by adding a liter of club soda. Slice up a full lemon and orange, and leave the wedges in the punch bowl.

For different versions of the drink as well as some history, check out mixology historian Dave Wondrich's take on the drink here. Or if you have a winter wine cocktail recipe you like, tell us about it below.