Sherbert Mimosa

We’re coming to you one last time in 2019 with a drink that we think will be the perfect addition to your New Years Eve, whether you’re getting fancied up or just laying low in PJs with the fam! Since we’re BIG mimosa people, we figured we’d give you one final, very simple, mimosa to close out 2019 and usher you right into 2020!

This is probably the easiest drink recipe we’ve ever made, but it will not disappoint! You literally only need 2 ingredients. SO EASY!

Here’s what you’ll need:
Ogio Prosecco
Sherbert (whatever flavor you prefer!)

And here’s how you make it:
Fill champagne flutes about 1/3 of the way with sherbert
Top with prosecco

THAT. IS. IT. Simple simple simple! And while there are no rules on when you should enjoy this, we all agree that it does make a perfect dessert drink, AKA the perfect drink to have in your hand when the ball drops in NYC!

As we say goodbye to an amazing 2019, we just want to thank YOU, our sweet community, for being a part of what we are doing here at C+C. Having you in our corner is a gift, and we are so looking forward to all that’s to come in 2020!

May you have a blessed, abundant, and healthy 2020! See you in the new year! Cheers!

5 EASY PROSECCO HOLIDAY COCKTAILS

These 5 easy prosecco holiday cocktails take less than 10 minutes to prep. Perfect for holiday brunch or cocktail party. Top with prosecco and enjoy.

This is a sponsored conversation written by Lena of Lena’s Kitchen blog on behalf of Corks and Cheers. The opinions and text are Lena’s. Pick up all your ingredients at your local Kroger store for a one stop shop.

Party planning can be daunting, especially around the holidays. I want to help you host a party where you get to relax, enjoy a cocktail or two and mingle with your family and friends.
So, I created these 5 easy prosecco holiday cocktails to give you a fun variety for your guests. All easy to make. Try one or all recipes and share with your guests this holiday season. Also, sharing an easy charcuterie board tutorial to make as a perfect cheese and meat pairing with these cocktails. Set it up and let your guests graze while you get to relax and enjoy the party too.
My favorite part about these cocktails is that all of the work can be done ahead of time. Set it up for your guests to make their own drinks. Then all you have to do is enjoy a fun time playing hostess with the mostess and have fun with your guests.

DAY BEFORE PARTY:
-Clean all your glassware and place them upside down.
– Set up bar cart with glasses, napkins, straws, toothpicks.
-Chill the prosecco, 7UP, juices the night before.
– Set up charcuterie board with bowls and have your utensils ready.
-Make sure you have enough ice to keep drinks cool and use for serving the drinks too.
DAY OF PARTY:
-Prep the fixings for all the drinks.
-Cut and crumble the cheeses.
-Prep and cut the meats for charcuterie.
-Clean grapes for charcuterie.
-Create all the garnishes for each drink and keep cold.
-Make all 5 cocktails or pick one or two for a signature cocktail for your party. Up to you.
Let’s get this party started, shall we? Here are your FIVE festive cocktail recipes using the delicious Ogio Prosecco and 7UP. Cheers!

BLUEBERRY LIME SPRITZ, a fun spin on a spritz. It’s light, fizzy, citrusy and stunning. I love the touch of blueberries for a pop of color

This sweet GINGER PEACH SPARKLE marries ginger and peach together with a refreshing hint of thyme.

Refreshing, light, fruity and bubbly is what this STRAWBERRY PROSECCO SMASH cocktail tastes like — it’s summer in a cup…but should be enjoyed year round!

Not your traditional mimosa recipe. Adding a twist of lime and pineapple to make this a festive PINEAPPLE ORANGE MIMOSA.

This RASPBERRY LIME MIMOSA has a great hint of lime and sweetness from the raspberries. Perfect morning or evening pick me up.

Here are some simple steps you can take to create the perfect charcuterie board. This HOLIDAY CHARCUTERIE BOARD will be the center of attention at any party. Easy to prep ahead and serve to your guests.

Instructions for presentation:
-Cut off ends of manchego cheese, then thinly slice into triangles.
-Lay out the cheeses, place bowls near them. In bowls, add in cornichons, olives, honey and jam. I like to have the jam next to manchego cheese, it goes really well together.
-Add in the prosciutto and salami around the cheeses. Add sliced apples or pears, persimmons and nuts around. Add in the grapes and fill in the middle of the board gaps with nuts, dried fruit and crackers at the edges of the board.
-Serve and enjoy with a few cocktails and friends.

I hope you guys have the happiest of holidays and can’t wait to see you make these 5 easy prosecco holiday cocktails and a beautiful charcuterie board to make your hosting hassle free and enjoyable. Cheers, friends!

Happy Holidays,
Lena

Raspberry Lime Mimosa

We’re back with another beautiful holiday cocktail that is sure to impress at all of your festive get-togethers this season! Today on the menu it’s our subtly classy, not-too-dry but not-too-sweet, Raspberry Lime Mimosa! And don’t let the name fool you — this isn’t just a brunch drink…this is an anytime-of-day-drink!

Once again we are partnering with our dear friend Lena of @lenaskitchenblog to execute these recipes, all of which feature our Corks + Cheers exclusive Ogio Prosecco as well as 7Up!

So, without further ado, here’s what you’ll need to get this cocktail ready:
*makes 4 cocktails
1 cup raspberry lemonade1⁄2 cup Diet 7UP lemon lime soda4 tbsp lime juiceOgio Prosecco to top off each glass Ice
GARNISH
Fresh raspberries4 thin lime slicesStemless champagne flutes or regular

And here’s how you make it:
Add raspberry lemonade to bottom of each glass, then add the Diet 7UP lemon limesoda and lime juice.
Add Ice, top with garnishes.
Top off with prosecco in each glass.

And since we can’t let your guests starve, we have a few cheese pairing suggestions for this drink as well. Again, all cheese options we recommend can be found at your local Kroger!
Pairings for this mimosa are as follows:
Santori Merlot Bellavitano (wine soaked cheese)
Gorganzola Dolce cheese

This little mimosa will be a definite crowd favorite this holiday season! And beware, they’re not just pretty to look at. They’re PRETTY (easy) to drink, too!

All our love to you and yours this holiday season! Cheers to creating special memories and moments with your people!

Strawberry Prosecco Smash

We are SQUEALING with delight over here becausee Thanksgiving is officially OVER which means everyone is finally on the Christmas train! No more controversy on if it’s too soon to celebrate or not — and we are in full swing here in the Corks and Cheers community!

Once again this year we have teamed up with our incredibly talented and creative friend, Lena from @lenaskitchenblog to give you delicious and gorgeous seasonal cocktails to serve at your holiday parties! Each of the recipes features our FAVORITE bubbly, Ogio Prosecco, and everyone’s favorite lemon-lime soda, 7Up!

First up in our holiday cocktail lineup is our Strawberry Prosecco Smash. Super simple, easy on the eyes, and absolutely delicious!

Here’s what you’ll need:
*makes 4 cocktails

8 large fresh strawberries, smashed
1 tsp sugar
1⁄2 cup 7UP lemon lime soda
1⁄2 large lemon, juiced
Ogio Prosecco to top off each glass
Ice
GARNISH
4 thin lemon slices
Fresh mint leaves
High ball style glass

And here’s how you make it:

Cut and then smash strawberries in a jar with sugar and lemon. Add the Diet 7UP lemon lime soda, mix well together.
Add ice in glasses. Add 2 spoonfuls of strawberry mix into each glass. Garnish with lemon and mint leaves.
Top off with prosecco in each glass.

If you’re looking for something for your guests to munch on while they enjoy this drink, we suggest the following cheese pairings, all available at your local Kroger:
-Soft triple cream brie (or any kind of brie)
-Aged manchego cheese

And there you have it — easy peasy, per usual! Come find us on instagram @corksandcheers and let us know who you’re enjoying your cocktails with! And don’t forget to give Lena a follow as well!

Happy Holidays, friends! We hope you’re enjoying all the beauty this season brings!

Dip It & Gift It: Holiday Edition

Why fix something that ain’t broken, right!? Right! Which is why we’re back with another classic Dip It & Gift It option for you to use this holiday season!

Look, we aren’t trying to induce panic here, but the holidays are literally happening, like…right now. NOW. Translation: If you haven’t already, START SHOPPING. And if you need help gifting, keep reading!

Despite the amount of gifts you’re probably responsible for giving, we have at least a few gifts covered for you with this easy and adorable little guy! *Cue the superhero-save-the-day-music* It’s so easy — grab a bottle of your person’s favorite wine (we used, and highly recommend, Storyteller Pinot Noir). Once you’ve picked out your wine, you’ll need to grab some melting chocolate, press n’ seal, a basting brush, and a pot to melt your chocolate. A stove or an electric burner will also be necessary.

And here’s how you make the magic happen: Set your burner to med-high heat. Pour your melting chocolate into your pot and stir every minute or so until smooth. While your chocolate is melting, take your plastic wrap and wrap your bottle, leaving the top open. In this particular case, we used our delicious Rue de Pearl Rosé. Ensure that the plastic goes all the way to the bottom and wrap it underneath, so as to keep the chocolate from touching the actual bottle. Now, you’re ready to dip (or in our case, paint!) We used a silicone basting brush to essentially “paint” on the chocolate which made the process SO easy, but you can use whatever you’d like. At this point, take the basting brush in the chocolate and paint your bottle and again, leave the top clean. We went around the bottle a few times to get the chocolate nice and thick, but this is a total preference thing. You can’t really mess this up, we promise! Lastly, while the chocolate is still melted, add your sprinkles for the perfect finishing touch! After this, let your chocolate dry (about 5-10 minutes in the freezer will do the trick!) Once dry, wrap your adorable bottle in a plastic bag, tie a ribbon around the top, add one of our DARLING gift tags, and boom! You’re ready to gift it.

Not only does this make your life much easier, we’re pretty sure chocolate and wine is gonna make the lucky wine recipient’s life easier, too! We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again — you cannot go wrong with the gift of wine!

For our cute gift tags, download & print here:

And as if you need help showing the lucky recipient how to put this gift to use, it’s literally as simple as this: grab a plate or bowl and place the covered bottle in the center, then begin peeling the the press n’ seal off and letting the chocolate crack off and fall. Toss your wrap in the trash, grab the corkscrew, and get to pouring! Wham Bam — chocolate and wine right at your fingertips!

Here’s to making your holiday gift-giving a little easier, and a lot sweeter!

Happy Holidays, friends! Cheers to life, love, family, and friends this season!

It’s National Zinfandel Day!

What would we be good for around here if not to give you every excuse in the book to enjoy a glass of wine as part of a national holiday!? Another national holiday to celebrate another wine, you ask!? YES and YES. And you’re welcome. Again.

This time, we’re celebrating Zinfandel Day! And instead of just suggesting a glass of Zin for you to enjoy, we’ve included one of our timeless recipes to help you spice it up a little bit! Don’t get us wrong — just a normal glass of Zinfandel is a great option, but sometimes it’s just fun to make it a mixer!

So — allow us to introduce you to our Cranberry-Lime Zinfandel Mixer. It’s DELISH and honestly would be a fantastic drink to serve at all the holiday parties you have coming up! Nothing says holiday cocktail quite like cranberries, right!?

Here’s what you’ll need:
-1 bottle Zinopolis Zinfandel
-2 cups Cranberry Juice
-2-3 tbsp Lime Juice (to taste)
-2/3 cup Sparkling Water
-Lime, sliced for garnish
-Fresh Cranberries

Here’s how you make it:
Disclaimer: as per usual with our recipes, this is about as easy as it comes.
Start by combining your wine, cranberry juice, lime juice, and cranberries in a pitcher, then chill in the refrigerator. Once chilled and right before serving, add your sparkling water. Garnish with lime and enjoy!

Easy peasy!

Not a mixer kind’a gal? No worries! Our Zinopolis Zinfandel is amazing by itself! It’s a full bodied wine with dark berry flavors, and it is incredibly smooth and velvety. We can’t say enough good things about this bottle! Grab yours at your local Kroger!

Come hang with us on social media and let us know how you’re celebrating Zinfandel Day! We’re @corksandcheers on Instagram and Corks + Cheers on Facebook!

Cheers!

It’s National Merlot Day!

Um….YEAH. You had us at MERLOT! (Ha!! We know, it’s cheesy…but it would have been wrong to pass that opportunity up!) BUT YOU GUYS! National Merlot Day! Hello! Another holiday we never knew we needed — and this time, it’s in the middle of fall! If this isn’t God proving He loves us then we don’t know what is!

While we have a few different Merlot’s we love, we decided to feature our gorgeous Storyteller Merlot for today’s post. This wine is sure to please your palate with its hints of berries and milk chocolate (yes, please!). It’s the perfect wine to pair with a hearty meat dish or a delicious pasta. AKA — it’s no coincidence that Merlot Day falls during autumn, the king-of-heart-meals-season!

Take some time for yourself today and celebrate with us! Invite a friend over or grab your spouse for a little night in, and share a bottle together….not that you need a reason to celebrate with Merlot on a random Thursday, but you’re welcome for giving you one!

Happy Merlot Day, C+C fam! Cheers!

It’s Cabernet Day!

Yes, friends. YES. You absolutely DID read that title right. It’s NATIONAL CABERNET SAUVIGNON DAY! Don’t worry, our eyes are welling up with happy tears, too. It’s the holiday we never knew we needed, but the holiday we’ve always deserved. HALLELUJAH.

So, to celebrate we’re treating ourselves to our favorite Storyteller Cab, paired with these delicious Private Selection mixed nuts and chocolates, and the always necessary prosciutto and mozzarella roll-ups also by Private Selection. And because it’s a holiday, why not splurge a little bit, right?! So we even got ourselves some flowers for the occasion. Y’ALL, YOU. DESERVE. THIS.

Seriously, though…can we brag on our Storyteller Cabernet Sauv real quick? It is amazingly smooth, with the richest taste. It pairs well with SO many foods and it is a fan-favorite when you are hosting friends or family. Run —don’t walk — to your nearest Kroger to grab yourself a bottle or two!

HAPPY CAB DAY!

Storyteller Wine-a-rita

We’re not entirely sure how, but summer is in it’s final weeks before all the fall things begin to creep in and while we’re not ready for the long, sunshine-y days and warm weather to leave, there’s something about that transition into fall that makes our hearts beat a little bit faster! And what good are we if we don’t hook you up with the perfect summer-to-fall transition drink?!

Enter: our Storyteller Wine-a-rita! It’s literally a margarita topped with red wine and as you wipe the happy tears from your eyes, let us tell you how unbelievably easy this drink is to make. Like, it might be our easiest one ever — and that’s saying something!

So here’s what you’ll need:
-1 bottle remade Margaritas (or you can make your margs from scratch if that’s more your style)
-1 bottle Storyteller Red Blend
….that’s literally it. You’re welcome.

And here’s how you make it:
Fill your glass about 3/4 full with margarita, on the rocks, and then top with Storyteller Red Blend and serve. Badabing badaboom. We weren’t kidding here — it is the EASIEST. EVER.

And listen — don’t go spouting off about how you shouldn’t mix margaritas and wine or how you shouldn’t ruin a good thing. Have we ever steered you wrong?! No. And this is definitely not ruining a good thing. This is making 2 good things even better. We promise. It’s like the summer-y vibes of a margarita meet the warm notes of a red blend for fall. Also known, simply, as “perfection.”

Cheers to a few more weeks of late nights and memories made before the structure of fall settles in for good!

Frosé

Hey, y’all! We know it’s been a minute since we brought you something delicious to mix up, but we promise the wait on all of our amazing summer drinks is worth it! Today we’re featuring what is sure to be your GO-TO refresher for the remainder of the summer. It’s our Frozen Chalkboard Rosé, and unlike every other Frosé, this one does not need to be made ahead of time! HELLO! You can make this yumminess ON THE SPOT. And you can make it over and over and over again so nobody’s cup has to be empty!

Here’s what you’ll need:
– 1 bottle Chalkboard Rosé
– 7 up
– Chopped strawberries
– Ice
– Hand mixer/blender

And here’s how you do it:

LIKE, WHAT!? It’s that easy!? YES. IT IS THAT EASY! And you guys — trust us when we say it tastes amazing. We think it might be one of our favorite recipes we’ve ever made! It’s the perfect mix of refreshing and delish…and can we just say, for whatever reason, it tastes just a little bit better on a patio with friends or poolside with a good playlist!

Wherever you decide to enjoy it and whoever you decide to enjoy it with, we are 100% sure you will be BERRY pleased with this one!