Sparkling Shiraz Cocktail with Dark Chocolate Coated Cacao Nibs

Sparkling Shiraz Cocktail with Dark Chocolate Coated Cacao Nibs

Sparkling-Shiraz-Cacao-Nib-Cocktail-pin

Have you ever had Sparkling Shiraz? It’s basically red wine champagne. Well check out this Sparkling Shiraz Cocktail with Dark Chocolate Coated Cacao Nibs rimmed on the glass.

Sparkling Shiraz?

Yes! Let’s get right into it because this is a fairly easy cocktail. I’m not even sure you can call it a cocktail because it has no mixer, but oh well. Here goes!

Sparkling shiraz, as the name suggests, is shiraz, but bubbly like Champagne. Shiraz itself pairs well with red meats, soft cheeses and good aged cheddars, and of course, chocolate. When you add bubbles, shiraz has a pleasant tanginess that, honestly, creates the best wine I’ve ever tasted. I do not say that lightly.

[blockquote_sty ver=”1″ border_size=”4px” color=”#8c0001″]Sparkling Shiraz Is The Best Wine I Have Ever Tasted! -Me[/blockquote_sty]

But Which One Is The Best?

I’ve tried sparkling shiraz from a few different vineyards and I have to say the best one is made by an Australian label Bleasdale. I want to emphasize that they’re not paying me to endorse their product. I honestly LOVE it so much.

Bleasdale Vineyards The Red Brute Sparkling Shiraz

Here it is, the greatest bottle of wine I’ve ever had.  Bleasedale Vineyards “The Red Brute” Sparkling Shiraz. Not only is it utterly delcious, it has that super creepy old dude named Uncle Dick on the label. It’s hilarious and a conversation piece at your Thanksgiving Table! Haha!

I was really sad when my local wine shop that carried it closed down and really missed having such easy access to it. Then one day, like an old girlfriend, it popped into my head. So I googled it! I found a place nearby that would send me a few bottles and with shipping it worked out to like $18 dollars a bottle. Not bad for THE. BEST. WINE. EVER.

So, How Are We Making A Cocktail Out Of It?

Since it is the best wine ever, there’s not much to do to enhance it. But let’s add chocolate to it because wine and chocolate go perfect together. So, here it is, a sparkling shiraz cocktail in a glass rimmed with crushed dark chocolate coated cacao nibs.

Cacao Nibs?! Holy Crap!

Yeah! Well, let’s get started. First, we need sparkling shiraz and Wine-Searcher.com has a great resource for finding it in your state. You can also purchase it from Wine.com, but I like to avoid paying for shipping as much as I can so try to find it locally first.

Trader Joe's 60% Dark Chocolate Coated Cacao Nibs

Next you’re going to need dark chocolate coated cacao nibs. Trader Joe’s makes them and they are fucking delicious. After you make this cocktail, you’ll have extra and you won’t regret it. I tried this recipe with raw nibs and it was a little disappointing, so definitely get these.

Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

Lastly, you are going to need something to moisten the rim of the glass to make the nibs stick onto it.  I used orange juice. So, grab yourself an orange while you are out at the store.

I Can’t Wait To Try This!

Ground Dark Chocolate Cacao Nibs

Step 1: Put 2 tablespoons of cacao nibs in a food processor and pulse until coarsely ground. You should have something like the above image.

Step 2: Juice an orange into a bowl and set aside.

Step 3: Dip a champagne flute or coupé glass into the OJ to moisten it. Then dip the moistened glass into the ground nibs.

Sparkling Shiraz Cocktail with Dark Chocolate Coated Cacao Nibs

Step 4: Crack open that bottle of sparkling shiraz and pour it in!

That’s it. You’ve made a super delicious, SUPER easy cocktail that will make everyone ooh and ahh; and embarrassingly lick their glasses to savor every nib.

Currently Jamming To:

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This recipe requires a little something special.  Here’s a list of what you will need:
 
[list][list_item icon=”fa-cutlery”]Bleasdale “The Red Brute” Sparkling Shiraz[/list_item][list_item icon=”fa-cutlery”]Trader Joe’s 60% Dark Chocolate Covered Cacao Nibs[/list_item][list_item icon=”fa-cutlery”]Juicer[/list_item][list_item icon=”fa-cutlery”]Champagne Flute[/list_item][list_item icon=”fa-cutlery”]Coupé Glass[/list_item][/list]
[df_divider el_width=”100″ style=”solid” height=”1px” accent_color=”#EEEEEE” border_size=”1px” padding=”22px 0″ position=”align_center” el_class=“”]

Sparkling Shiraz Cocktail with Dark Chocolate Coated Cacao Nibs

Have you ever had Sparkling Shiraz? It’s basically red wine champagne. Well check out this Sparkling Shiraz Cocktail with Dark Chocolate Coated Cacao Nibs rimmed on the glass.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Author Matthew Cetta

Ingredients

  • 1 Bottle Bleasdale “The Red Brute” Sparkling Shiraz
  • Juice of 1 Orange
  • 2 Tablespoons Dark Chocolate Coated Cacao Nibs

Instructions

  1. Pulse Cacao nibs in a food processor until coarsely ground and transfer to a small bowl.
  2. Dip a champagne flute or coupé into the orange juice to moisten and then into the ground nibs to coat.
  3. Pour in sparkling shiraz.

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Comments

23 responses to “Sparkling Shiraz Cocktail with Dark Chocolate Coated Cacao Nibs”

  1. I must admit that I never tried sparkling Shiraz. Pairing it with chocolate is pretty clever. Now all you need is some cheese and you have it all!

    1. Matthew Cetta

      MMM yes! A good soft cheese would be perfect with this.

  2. I’ve never tried that but this looks amazing and now I must try it : )

  3. Love how you garnished the rim with the cacoa nibs!

  4. I seriously just showed this to my husband and told him to make this happen- how did I not know that sparkling red wine was a thing??? And maybe I’ll just start coating the edges of all my red wine glasses with cacao hahaha! How awesome! (And that dude is super creepy lol)

    1. Matthew Cetta

      When I discovered it, It felt like Aladdin was singing in my ear  ? A Whole New World!?

  5. Well, if the shiraz and the nibs are fucking delicious, I’m definitely going to have to try this! LOL -I almost spit out my coffee when I read that line. I think you should be my neighbor. We’d get along great…

    1. Matthew Cetta

      ???

  6. Once this baby comes I want one of these STAT! Seriously, this is a dream combination!

  7. Wow! This looks amazing! Love this sparkling cocktail! So curious to try it!

  8. Katerina @ diethood .com

    Yes, please!! This looks terrific!

  9. Michele

    Ive never met a bubbly I didn’t like! Seriously, the name of this wine just cracks me up! I know enough about wine to know where its grown if I’ll like it but Im still drawn to picking out wines by their label,(big wine snob Im not…lol), The fact that its a great label and it may be “the best ever” makes it a sure order online for me to give it a whirl!

  10. A) Agreed – red wine and chocolate are clearly a match made in heaven.
    B) Sparkling shiraz?! I… I didn’t know this was a thing, but now I’m totally intrigued.
    C) That bubbly glass shot at the end is a freakin’ work of art. Seriously, nice job.

    And hey, I’m happy to call this a cocktail. Whatever you want to call it, I want one.

  11. This cocktail sounds soooo fantastic! I enjoy a good Shriaz, so I can imagine that a sparkling one with cocoa with be amazing!

  12. You should know I will never turn down a great glass of wine! Sparkling Shiraz sounds like something I absolutely need in my life, and those cacao nibs sound like something I HAVE to have in my life! Thanks for this fab recipe, information, and pictures! Cheers!

  13. These are some seriously beautiful photos. About a year or two ago I read an article in a food magazine about sparkling Shiraz. I immediately wanted to try it but for some reason I still have not. This cocktail looks even more delicious and the rim gives it such a special and celebratory feel! I can’t wait to try it.

  14. Chocolate and orange (or citrus in general) is one of my all time favorite combinations. Add red wine to the mix, and I’d pretty much be in heaven. I still haven’t gotten a chance to try sparkling shiraz but it’s on my “to do” list in 2017! Great pour shot – those bubbles!

  15. Ok once I have this baby I am trying this cocktail! It sounds amazing, and I love the dark chocolate nibs on the rim of the glass – I NEED to find these!! Yum

  16. I’ve never had sparkling shiraz before but it sounds like something that I need to try asap. I am loving the bottle and I bet “Uncle Dick” is definitely a conversation starter at the dinner table! So glad that you could find your favorite wine again. I will be trying to pick myself up a bottle in the very near future!

  17. I seriously love those Trader Joe’s cocoa nibs…I bet they are awesome for this drink.

  18. The color in this is gorgeous and so festive!

    1. Matthew Cetta

      Thank you!

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