This “So Good” Italian Party Trick Is the Only Way I’m Drinking Red Wine All Fall

Lindsay Funston
Lindsay FunstonEditor-in-Chief at The Kitchn
I'm the Editor-in-Chief of The Kitchn. I lead content across the site and write about my favorite cooking secrets and our recipes definitely worth trying. Before joining the best team ever, I was the Executive Editor of Delish, where I mastered the cheese pull. I live in Portland, Oregon, with my husband, toddler, and doodle.
published Oct 5, 2024
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Red Wine Martini.
Credit: Lindsay Funston

I felt like I had reached adulthood when I finally had a go-to drink order — you know, like James Bond or “The Dude” from The Big Lebowski. Mine is a gin martini with a lemon twist and an olive. (If you like a martini, this is it!) A martini-lover I am, but a purist I am not. (I’m a huge fan of our newly published Mexican martini recipe, which isn’t technically a martini at all.)

When I got word that a red wine martini was a thing, I was admittedly skeptical — I thought that the combination of wine and gin was not going to be my favorite — but knew I had to try. We love a red wine trick at The Kitchn, like mixing ginger ale with red wine or cola for a Kalimotxo. Plus, I’m always looking for another excuse to have wine night with friends. I had an opened bottle of Oregon Pinot Noir hanging out on my counter, so I got to work. I’m always down for a boozy experiment.

How to Make a Red Wine Martini

The directions couldn’t be simpler: In a cocktail shaker, combine 2 ounces red wine, 1 ounce gin, 1/2 ounce simple syrup, and 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice. Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass, then garnish with lemon. Pro tip that I just learned from our Associate Food Editor, Andrea: When making simple syrup, you can break the rules. She doesn’t even bother with heating up the sugar and water in a pan to let the sugar dissolve — and then waiting for the syrup to cool. (This is always the dilemma, right? You want to make a cocktail now, but don’t have simple syrup readily available in the fridge.) She just shakes up the sugar and water in a Mason jar and proceeds. So we’re not making a simple syrup the conventional way … ever again.

Credit: Lindsay Funston

What Makes a Red Wine Martini So Good

This red wine martini is such a delight! There’s more red wine to gin, so the liquor adds some complexity but doesn’t overpower the flavor, and the lemon juice keeps everything bright and refreshing. It’s a nice transition cocktail during this time of year when a glass of red sounds cozy but you want a stiffer drink. Next time I’ll try it with Lambrusco, my favorite sparkling red wine that mixes surprisingly well in cocktails. For now, it’s not going to replace my go-to martini order, but I love knowing it can be in the rotation.