When it comes to wine, everyone has an opinion, so what do you do when you’re hosting a Chanukah party and everyone wants something different? We asked our resident party expert (and director of wine education for Royal Wine Corp.) Jay Buchsbaum and he suggested mixing up a batched cocktail. Why? It’s easy, you can make it in large quantities ahead of time, and people can help themselves as opposed to you pouring every glass. I’ve listed some favorites below, but the possibilities are endless. So grab a large punch bowl or pitcher (or several, if you’re creating more than one recipe) and don’t just host your party, enjoy it too!
Passion Fruit Bubbly
This one is easy and sweet and the bubbles make it fancy, definite crowd pleaser!
What you’ll need:
Large pitcher
1 bottle Morad Passion Fruit Wine (Chilled)
1 bottle Bartenura Prosecco (Chilled)
Combine both bottles, mix gently, and serve right away to maintain all the bubbles. Just that simple!
Dreidel Rum Punch
Be careful with this one, drink too much and your head will be spinning!
Rum is a wonderfully versatile spirit that can be mixed with just about everything, and the Walder’s Creamy Liqueur adds a decadent rich layer to this festive punch.
What you’ll need:
Large punch bowl
1 bottle Ron Viejo De Caldas 3 Year Aged Rum
4 cans ginger ale
4 cups pineapple juice
1 bottle Walder’s Vodka & Vanilla Creamy Liqueur
Plenty of ice
In a large punch bowl, combine all of the ingredients except the ice and ginger ale. Refrigerate the punch for about an hour before you’re ready to serve. Then, add the ice, ginger ale, and stir.
Winter Sangria
Don’t worry about following this recipe exactly, sangria is a very forgiving drink that can be made with nearly limitless variations. Don’t have apples, use pears, have some extra oranges laying around, slice them up and add them in…
What you’ll need:
Large pitcher
1 bottle Jeunesse Cabernet Sauvignon
½ bottle of Morad Pomegranate Wine
½ cup pomegranate seeds
½ cup sliced apples
1 cinnamon stick
¼ cup of sugar
In a large pitcher, combine fruit, sugar, cinnamon stick, and wine. Stir and refrigerate 3–4 hours (you can prepare the night before to save even more time!) so all the flavors come together. Want to kick it up a notch, add a little sparkling wine or champagne right before serving.
Just remember, the important thing about hosting a party is spending time with friends and family, not your kitchen. Enjoy and Happy Chanukah!
By Jay Buchsbaum
