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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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:
Sparkling Shiraz Cocktail with Dark Chocolate Coated Cacao Nibs
Ingredients
- 1 Bottle Bleasdale “The Red Brute” Sparkling Shiraz
- Juice of 1 Orange
- 2 Tablespoons Dark Chocolate Coated Cacao Nibs
Instructions
-
Pulse Cacao nibs in a food processor until coarsely ground and transfer to a small bowl.
-
Dip a champagne flute or coupé into the orange juice to moisten and then into the ground nibs to coat.
-
Pour in sparkling shiraz.
Leave a Reply