A good holiday drink knows its occasion. Something crisp with apple and thyme suits the first knock at the door. Pear and sage belong beside the pre-dinner snack board. And a warm cherry toddy makes a persuasive case for keeping the evening’s plans close to the fireplace.
The best holiday cocktails start with Bonterra wines, then bring in seasonal fruit, fresh herbs and warming spice. The four recipes below cover a welcome drink, pre-dinner sipping, a quiet night in and a pitcher for holiday parties, with make-ahead tips that leave you time to enjoy what you’ve made.
Key Takeaways
- Choose your cocktail by occasion: Cider Sauvy to welcome guests, Sauvy Pear before dinner, Hot Cherry Toddy for a cozy evening or Winter White Sangria for a gathering.
- Two recipes feature Bonterra Sauvignon Blanc, and two feature Ranch Wine, giving you both crisp white wine cocktails and bolder fruit-forward options.
- Organically farmed grapes give Bonterra’s festive cocktails a clean, fresh foundation that lets the fruit, herbs and spice shine.
- Prepare ingredients ahead, save bubbles for serving time and warm the toddy gently without boiling.
Why Wine Makes the Easiest Holiday Cocktails
Organic wine gives holiday cocktails a flavorful starting point. Citrus, berry or tropical notes are already in the bottle, so fruit, herbs and just enough honey or maple to sweeten the glass can build on what’s there. You can make these drinks with a mixing glass, a saucepan or a pitcher, depending on the evening.
At America’s #1 organic winery, fresh, clean flavor starts with organically farmed grapes. That freshness makes Bonterra wines a natural foundation for holiday cocktails, giving seasonal fruit, fragrant herbs and warming spice room to shine.
The pleasure of these festive cocktails is in that balance: enough seasonal flavor to feel considered, with the wine still easy to recognize. Fresh herbs also add aroma and a little cheer as you lift the glass.
For more cold-weather inspiration, explore our winter cocktail recipes. Here, the focus is on holiday moments and the drinks that suit them.
4 Festive Cocktails for Every Holiday Moment
The holiday calendar has room for a dressed-up welcome drink and a quiet evening with two mugs. These four recipes let you celebrate the season by matching the pour to the plans, using seasonal fruit and herbs to give each occasion its own character.
For a Holiday Welcome: Cider Sauvy
Apple cider and maple give this welcome drink a seasonal warmth, while Bonterra Sauvignon Blanc and fresh lemon keep it bright. Served in a frozen martini glass with pomegranate seeds, it looks ready for company before anyone has handed over a coat.
Makes 1 cocktail
Ingredients
• 4 oz Bonterra Sauvignon Blanc
• ¾ oz unfiltered apple cider
• ¼ oz fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp pure maple syrup
• 1 small thyme sprig
• ¾ oz club soda, chilled
• Apple slice and pomegranate seeds, for garnish
Method
1. Place a martini glass in the freezer to chill.
2. Add the Sauvignon Blanc, apple cider, lemon juice and maple syrup to an ice-filled mixing glass. Stir briefly to combine and chill.
3. Strain into the frozen glass and top with club soda.
4. Gently clap the thyme sprig between your palms, then add it with the apple slice and pomegranate seeds.
The thyme gives the apple and maple a savory counterpoint. Keep the garnish simple enough that the first sip is easy to reach.
For Pre-Dinner Sipping: Sauvy Pear
Pear and sage take Sauvignon Blanc in a softer, more savory direction. Honey syrup rounds out the lemon, and a splash of soda keeps the finish refreshing. This is the glass to set beside olives, cheese and whatever everyone has started sampling before dinner.
Makes 1 cocktail
Ingredients
• 4 oz Bonterra Sauvignon Blanc
• ½ oz pear juice
• ¼ oz fresh lemon juice
• ¼ oz honey syrup
• 1 fresh sage leaf
• 1 oz club soda, chilled
• Pear slice and the sage leaf, for garnish
Method
1. Make the honey syrup by stirring equal parts honey and warm water until combined. Let it cool before measuring.
2. Gently slap the sage leaf between your palms and set it aside.
3. Add the Sauvignon Blanc, pear juice, lemon juice and honey syrup to an ice-filled mixing glass. Stir briefly.
4. Strain into a rocks glass over one large ice cube. Top with club soda and garnish with the pear slice and sage.
Among these festive cocktails, Sauvy Pear is particularly well suited to the leisurely stretch before dinner. One large cube gives it a clean presentation without crowding the glass.
For a Cozy Night In: Hot Cherry Toddy
Made with sustainably sourced California grapes, Ranch Wine brings its fruit-forward character to this warm cherry toddy. Lemon and honey brighten the base, with bourbon or rye adding depth. A restrained touch of cinnamon, star anise or orange peel keeps the cherry in focus.
Makes 2 cocktails
Ingredients
• 4 oz Ranch Wine Chillable Black Cherry
• 1 oz whiskey, such as bourbon or rye
• 1½ cups hot water
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 4 tsp honey, adjusted to taste
• Optional: cinnamon stick, star anise or a small piece of orange peel
• Lemon slices, cinnamon sticks or orange peel, for garnish
Method
1. Combine the Ranch Wine, hot water and your chosen optional spices in a small saucepan. Warm gently over low heat without letting it boil.
2. Divide the whiskey, lemon juice and honey between two heatproof mugs.
3. Remove the whole spices from the saucepan, then divide the warm wine mixture between the mugs. Stir until the honey dissolves.
4. Taste and adjust the honey if needed. Garnish with lemon, cinnamon or orange peel.
Holiday cocktails have room for a two-mug occasion, too. This one is particularly good when the wrapping is finished and the comfortable seats are finally available.
For Holiday Entertaining: Winter White Sangria (Batch)
Pineapple Key Lime Ranch Wine brings a bright tropical note to apples, pears and cranberries. Sparkling apple cider ties the fruit together, making a pitcher that looks at home on the holiday table and leaves the host free to join it.
Makes approximately 8 servings
Ingredients
• 1 bottle Ranch Wine Pineapple Key Lime, 750 ml
• 1 cup vodka
• 2 cups nonalcoholic sparkling apple cider, chilled
• 1 apple, chopped
• 1 pear, chopped
• ½ cup cranberries
• 1 orange, sliced
• Additional cranberries, for garnish
Method
1. Combine the Ranch Wine and vodka in a large pitcher or punch bowl.
2. Add the apple, pear, cranberries and orange. Stir gently, cover and refrigerate for 1–2 hours.
3. Just before serving, add the chilled sparkling apple cider and stir gently.
4. Pour over ice, distributing some fruit into each glass, and garnish with cranberries.
Adding the cider at the end preserves its sparkle. Set out glasses and a spoon for the fruit, and the pitcher is ready to receive guests.
Make-Ahead Tips for Holiday Cocktails
A few preparations make these drinks easier to serve:
- Batch the sangria ahead. Combine the wine, vodka and fruit up to a day in advance and refrigerate, covered. Add the sparkling cider just before serving.
- Set up a warm toddy station. Scale the recipe evenly and gently heat the wine, water and optional spices first. Transfer to a slow cooker on its warm setting, checking that it stays below a simmer. Remove whole spices once the flavor suits you, and provide measured portions of whiskey, honey and lemon for each mug.
- Prepare the supporting ingredients. Make honey syrup and wash herbs the night before. Measure apple and pear juices into covered containers and refrigerate. Squeeze citrus closer to serving for fresher flavor.
- Finish the garnishes thoughtfully. Separate pomegranate seeds ahead, but slice apples and pears closer to serving to keep them looking fresh. Chill glassware and soda before guests arrive.
- Skip added spirits if you prefer. The toddy works without whiskey, and the sangria works without vodka. Both still contain alcohol from the wine; neither is an alcohol-free drink.
Stock Your Winter Bar
There’s a particular pleasure in having the ingredients ready before the doorbell rings. Glasses are chilling, the first snacks are out and a pitcher of sangria is catching the light beside a bowl of mandarins. You have time to choose the music.
Bonterra Sauvignon Blanc covers the crisp, fragrant welcome drinks; Ranch Wine Chillable Black Cherry is ready for a warm toddy; and Pineapple Key Lime brings the brightness to a batch of sangria. With those three holiday wines and a few seasonal ingredients on hand, you can make holiday cocktails that suit an evening with company or the quieter one you’ve been looking forward to all week.
Explore our Wine Finder to look for your bottles nearby. Save yourself the glass you like best.
CITATIONS
Good Food. How to make mulled wine.
Liquor.com. How to Make the Best Prebatched Cocktails. 2023.
Martha Stewart. 10 Creative Cocktail Garnishes That Add a Festive Touch to Your Holiday Drink. 2025.
