Sipping It Forward...A wine, cocktails & pairings blog

Wine, Cocktails & Pairings var sc_project=12172685; var sc_invisible=1; var sc_security="1ceb0626"; var sc_https=1;

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Watermelon Mint Frosé

Watermelon Mint Frosé

Serves: 8-10

Active: 20 minutes

Non-Active Time: 5 ½ hours

This summer, enjoy a twist on this classic: a refreshing watermelon and mint frosé, perfect for sipping poolside.

Ingredients:

1 bottle Rose'

¼ cup sugar

¼ cup water

5 mint leaves (plus a few extra for garnish)

5 cups watermelon purée (about ½ of a small, seedless watermelon)

Juice of 1 lime 

Instructions:

Pour rose' into ice cube trays, and freeze for 6 hours, or overnight.

Add sugar, water and mint to a small pot over low heat, and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally just until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and let cool & steep for 30 minutes before removing the mint leaves. 

Combine watermelon, lime and simple syrup in a blender and puree until smooth. Pour into ice cube trays and freeze for 6 hours or overnight. 

Combine both rose' & watermelon ice cubes in a blender and puree until smooth & slushy. This will blend easier if the cubes are slightly thawed / runny. 

Garnish with a mint leaf and / or a slice of watermelon on the rim of each glass.

Test Kitchen Tip: For “fast freezing”, pour rose' & watermelon onto separate baking trays and set in the freezer for 3 hours.

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Are you ready to taste the wild? Meet Wildthings—OneHope's newest collection and first-ever agave wine. You can get it HERE: SippingItForward.org

Agave wine is a fortified wine made from fermented blue agave…and it’s wildly wonderful. With this collection, we invite the eager and adventurous drinker to enjoy the zest of our tangy and bright lime agave wine margarita—or to go for something sweet and juicy with the strawberry option.

Curious how to sip on Wildthings? Try one of these fun variations below!

The Simple Way: Drink it as is…just add ice!

The Bubbly Way: Top with one of our sparkling wines!

The Sweet or Salty Way: Salt or sugar the rim, or add some jalapeños or Tajín for an extra kick!

What better way to taste the wild than alongside an array of delicious and creative dips? Just gather your ingredients and your sipsters—and get ready to throw a festive Wildthings-inspired fiesta with these tasty dip recipes! 

Strawberry Mango Salsa

25 minutes

Serves 8-10

Pair with: Wildthings Strawberry Wine Margarita

Ingredients:

1 mango, skinned & diced

1 red bell pepper, diced

10 strawberries, diced

¼ red onion, diced

1 jalapeño pepper, seeds removed and diced

⅓ cup cilantro chopped

Juice of 2 limes

1 teaspoon salt

Corn tortilla chips

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix until combined. 

Garnish in a bowl with a sprig of cilantro, and serve with corn tortilla chips.

Cooking Tip: Leave some of the seeds in the jalapeño if you like a little extra heat in your salsa!

Estate Guacamole

30 minutes

Serves: 8-10

Pair with: Wildthings Lime Wine Margarita 

Ingredients:

8 avocados, peeled, pitted & mashed

1 tablespoons cup fresh lime juice (save a lime slice for garnish)

2 roma tomatoes seeds removed and chopped

¼ cup red onion, minced

2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

½ red bell pepper, chopped

1 (1 ounce) guacamole seasoning packet

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon ground pepper 

¼ teaspoon paprika (for garnish)

Corn tortilla chips

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Garnish with a sprig of cilantro, a circular lime slice and a sprinkling of paprika. Serve with yellow & blue corn chips.

White Cheddar & Gouda Queso

30 minutes

Serves: 8-10

Pair with: Wildthings Spritz

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons salted butter

½ white onion, minced

½ jalapeño, minced (save a few circular slices for garnish)

12 ounces white cheddar cheese, grated

8 ounces gouda cheese, grated

½ cup heavy cream

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

Corn tortilla chips

Instructions:

Melt butter in a medium sized saucepan over medium heat, and add in onion and jalapeño. Saute for 15 minutes until soft & onions are translucent. Add white cheddar, gouda and heavy cream and stir until melted. Season with salt & pepper.

Garnish with a couple slices of jalapeño and serve alongside corn tortilla chips.

Not only are our Wildthings Wine Margaritas versatile, festive, and fun—they make an impact, too!! Gather with friends or coworkers for an impactful wine tasting fundraiser with this new collection—and these festive dips!—or simply create an easy online fundraiser link. 10% of sales are donated to your cause of choice, plus you’ll earn rewards for hosting the tasting.

I can’t wait to see how you enjoy your #wildwinemarg. Make sure to tag me on social @sippingitforward so we can see all your festive and flavor-filled creations! Cheers!

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Cookies & Wine? Yes, please!!!

Is there any better flavor combination than wine and cookies? Oh, yes, please and thank you! It's definitely patio party time and if you are looking for a cool and different combo for the finishing touches to your gatherings, try these fab cookie combos!

Chocolate Chip Cookies & Cabernet Sauvignon: Cab is the perfect complement to chocolate chip cookies. Dry and full-bodied, it pairs well with the sweetness of the chocolate. Highly recommend! 

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies & Shiraz/Syrah*: The chewiness of oatmeal raisin cookies can overpower some wines, but just wait until you pair it with a full-bodied, spicy Shiraz (suggested substitute Zinfandel). 

Peanut Butter Cookies & Madeira: Madeira is a sweet, strong fortified wine that has a nutty flavor similar to sherry. Pairs well with the nuttiness of peanut butter cookies. Yum!

Sugar Cookies & Champagne: The best! The slight tartness of Champagne is a perfect match for the sweetness of sugar cookies. 

Shortbread Cookies & Chardonnay: The buttery flavor and vanilla notes of shortbread are complemented by the buttery and vanilla notes of an oaky Chardonnay. 

White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies & Riesling: A fruity, light Riesling provides a nice contrast to the buttery richness of the cookies.   

Two other tips: Ginger/Spice/Molasses Cookies: Gewürztraminer, Pinot Grigio. 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies: Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Grigio.   

These are not the only pairing options, of course; but they’re a good start. If you only want to taste one type of cookie, get the suggested wine and a second, similar wine. For example, with chocolate chip cookies taste both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Need help with wine choices? Let me help you! Start here:  www.sippingitforward.org

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Wagyu Short Ribs with Polenta

There’s nothing quite like this richly wonderful 8-hour, bone-in braised wagyu short rib dish. Paired with creamy polenta and finished with a jus, this hearty entrée is the ideal accompaniment to the blueberry aromas and hints of clove found in our NV Petite Sirah.

Pair With: ONEHOPE Napa Valley Petite Sirah

Serves: 3 portions

Time:  9 hours

Short Ribs

Yield: 3 portions

Ingredients

3 short ribs

4 oz all-purpose flour

3 carrots: medium dice

3 celery ribs: medium dice

1 yellow onion: medium dice

1 qt bone broth

16 oz red wine

Salt

Pepper

Instructions

Coat short ribs in salt, pepper, and flour. Heat pan with oil and sear on all sides until golden brown.

Remove short ribs from pan and add carrots, celery, and onions to pan.

Add red wine. Reduce. Add bone broth, reduce.  This should take about 20 minutes

Place short ribs, vegetable mix, and reduction to casserole dish and cover with foil. Let it braise overnight (about 16 hours) covered at 200 degrees.

Polenta

Yield: 1 ½ qts

Ingredients

16 oz polenta

1 gallon of bone broth, stock, or water

6 oz cream cheese

16 oz parmesan cheese, grated

16 oz cream

Salt

Instructions

Bring broth to boil in large pot and add polenta. Cook on low and constantly stir for about an hour. Add more broth as needed.

Finish with cream cheese, cream, and parmesan cheese. Season to taste and add more cheese as desired.

Jus

Yield: 12 oz

Ingredients

Braising liquid

1 bottle of red wine

1 bundle of thyme

1 shallot: rough chop

Instructions

Take braising liquid, add bottle of wine, thyme, and shallots and reduce until it is a quarter of the amount it was.

Strain jus. Return to pot.

Finish with butter and enjoy!

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Spiced Earl Gray Tea Cake

What a perfect way to welcome the Fall season! What’s more whimsical than a tea cake topped with whipped mascarpone and dusted with dark cocoa powder? In this recipe, a moist earl grey tea cake promises a treat with a fancy flair. Pair with my OneHope Sparkling Moscato for the most perfect dessert to enjoy by a cozy bonfire!

Serves: 8- 10 slices

Time: 1 hour

Whipped Mascarpone

Yields 1 ½ cups

Ingredients:

¾ cup heavy cream

2 tsp. loose Earl Grey tea

¼ cup confectioners’ sugar

½ cup mascarpone or softened cream cheese

Cake

Yield:  One 8 inch round cake tin

Ingredients

½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick), at room temperature, plus more for greasing the pan

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

1 tbsp. loose Earl Grey tea

1 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. kosher salt

1 cup granulated sugar

2 tsp. freshly grated orange zest (from 1 large orange)

2 large eggs, at room temperature

½ cup whole milk, at room temperature

¼ cup chopped dark chocolate

Instructions

Prepare the frosting: In a small saucepan, bring 1/2 cup heavy cream to a simmer over medium-high heat. Stir in the tea, remove from the heat, cover and let stand for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour. Strain the tea through a fine-mesh sieve, discarding the solids, and chill the remaining cream until completely cold, at least 1 hour.

Prepare the cake: Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-inch round cake pan and line with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, tea, baking powder and salt.

In large bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the orange zest and beat to combine. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat until combined, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary. Beat in the flour mixture on low, until just combined, then beat in the milk. (Don’t overmix.) Add the chocolate and fold it in using a spatula. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake just until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs attached, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool for about 15 minutes. Then tip the cake out onto the rack to cool completely.

To finish the frosting, add the remaining 1/4 cup cream and the confectioners’ sugar to the tea cream. With an electric mixer on medium, beat the cream mixture until medium-stiff peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the mascarpone and beat just until stiff peaks form. (Do not overmix.) Top the cake with the frosting to serve. Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days; let come to room temperature before serving.

Enjoy! XO - Ginger

Oh! Need a pretty cake stand? Try this! Ooh la la!

https://amzn.to/3v8o2NH

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Harvest Sun Cocktail

The only thing I love more than the rich amber color of this indulgent autumn cocktail is the smooth layers of fig, vanilla, and honey infused throughout it. Inspired by the end-of-day golden hour sunset views from the crush pad at our winery in Rutherford, you can enjoy this decadent yet refreshing concoction in your own backyard any day this autumn.

Featuring: ONEHOPE Vintner Chardonnay

Serves: 2

Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

1 ½ cups ONEHOPE Vintner Chardonnay

1 tbsp. fig preserves

¼ tsp. vanilla bean paste

1 tsp. honey

½ shot gin

2 fresh figs, sliced in half

2 sprigs thyme

Instructions

Combine chardonnay, fig preserves, vanilla bean paste, honey and gin in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake for 30 seconds.

Fill each serving glass with ice and pour mixture equally into each glass. Garnish with 2 sliced fig halves and a sprig of thyme in each glass.

Enjoy!

XO ~ Ginger

PS: Oh! One more thing! Look at these...

Can you imagine drinking this amazing cocktail out of these fun glasses? Here's the link: https://amzn.to/2W8DZpZ

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The Eagle Cheese Ball of Freedom

The 4th of July is a big deal in our family and I'm always trying to come up with something fun to give everyone a little giggle. And, since I am kind of a cheese ball...what better way to celebrate freedom than whipping up what I call "The Eagle Cheese ball of Freedom!" It almost makes you want to stand up and say the Pledge of Allegiance and sing the Star Spangled Banner all at the same time!

Here's how I made it:

2 (8 ounce) packages of cream cheese, softened

1 1/2 cups shredded white sharp cheddar cheese

6 slices of cooked crispy bacon

2 teaspoons garlic powder

Pretzels or you can use 1/2 cup pecan halves for the feathers

1 olive

Slice of yellow pepper

Directions:

Cream together the cream cheese, white sharp cheddar cheese, bacon, and garlic powder.

Use a spatula to dump the cheese mixture onto a large sheet of plastic wrap. Wrap it in the plastic wrap, form it into a ball, and let it chill in the refrigerator for at least hour.

While the cheese ball is still in the plastic wrap, start to form it into a cone so it resembles an eagle’s bodice.

About 1/3 way down from the top, make a neck be indenting the cheese. Remove the wrap.

Layer two rows of pretzels or pecans around the base of the eagle like roof shingles.

Press more shredded white cheese onto its head.

Cut an olive in half and add to both sides of head for the eyes.

Stick a slice of yellow pepper into the front of its face to resemble a beak. Use a toothpick to secure it in place if you have problems.

Serve with Red, White and Blue tortilla chips to finish off your patriotic cheese ball. I used Xochitl tortilla chips, which you can find here: https://amzn.to/3hsYhRC

Also, I think this bowl would be darling with your eagle: https://amzn.to/2UY60PW

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Bring On The Mimosas!

Who is ready for brunch? Whether you are pairing it with a stack of pancakes, chicken and waffles, or scrumptious eggs benedict, one thing is certain: brunch truly isn’t brunch without a mimosa!

Here are four refreshing mimosa recipes to share with you that are perfect to enjoy all spring and summer long! The first three are super-simple two-ingredient mimosas where you add your ideal juice-to-bubbles ratio, while the third is perfect for anyone looking for something a little more fancy!

The OG Mimosa

Ingredients

Fresh squeezed orange juice

ONEHOPE Vintner Collection Sparkling Brut

The Grapefruit Mimosa

Ingredients

Fresh squeezed grapefruit juice

ONEHOPE Vintner Collection Sparkling Brut

The Pineapple Mimosa

Ingredients

Pineapple Juice

ONEHOPE Vintner Collection Sparkling Brut

The Strawberry-Daiquiri-Mimosa

Serves 5-6

Ingredients

-3 cups fresh strawberries, stems removed

-4 tbsp. honey

-1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

–ONEHOPE Vintner Collection Sparkling Brut

Instructions

Combine strawberries, honey and lemon juice and in a blender on low / medium speed for 30 seconds until a smooth puree forms.

Pour 1 – 2 tbsp. of strawberry puree into a sparkling wine flute, and top with Vintner Brut.

Stock up on Sparkling

Ready to make some cocktails? Shop our collection of best-selling sparkling wines and get poppin’!

Shop Now

Cheers,

XOXO

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Spicy Sparkling Margarita Recipe

Happy Friday! Try out this homemade spicy sparkling margarita recipe with a bubbly twist, courtesy of the ONEHOPE test kitchen in Napa! I guarantee you’ll never go back to a store bought mix again!

Ingredients

2 tbsp. + ¼ cup fresh lime juice, separated

2 tbsp. maldon sea salt

2 tsp. lime zest

¼ cup silver tequila

¼ cup Cointreau or triple sec

1 tsp agave nectar

⅛ cup fresh orange juice

1 jalapeno, sliced

ONEHOPE Vintner Sparkling Brut

1 lime, sliced (for garnish)

1 orange, sliced (for garnish)

Instructions

Pour 2 tbsp. of fresh lime juice on a small plate, and add the kosher salt and lime zest on a separate small plate. Dip the rim of each serving glass in the lime juice, and then the salt mixture. Fill each glass with ice and a slice each of both lime and orange.

Combine ¼ cup lime juice, tequila, triple sec, agave nectar, orange juice, and 4-6 jalapeño slices in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake for 15 seconds. Using a strainer, pour mixture equally between both glasses, (each should be about half full). Top with ONEHOPE Sparkling Brut.

Cheers dears!

xoxo

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Time to order wine? 🥂🍾🍷 Sippingitforward.org

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Almond Sparkling Float

Serves 1

Prep time: 5 minutes

I can’t wait for you to try our newest wine, Natural Almond Sparkling Wine And you are sure to love it in this creamy, indulgent dessert cocktail! This crazy easy, 3-ingredient concoction will leave you wondering why you haven’t been putting wine in your floats all along!

Ingredients:

-1 scoop Madagascar vanilla bean gelato (or your favorite vanilla ice cream!)

-2 dashes bitters

–ONEHOPE Natural Almond Sparkling Wine

Instructions:

Place 1 scoop of gelato in a wine glass, top with 2 dashes of bitters and top off with Almond Sparkling Wine.

That's it!!! Easy Peasy!! Cheers and Enjoy!

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Wine for Your “I Do” Crew!

If you’re searching for the perfect way to “pop” the question to your bridal party, look no further. I'm thrilled to share our new bridal bubbly etched shimmer bottles that are the perfect way to celebrate with your “I Do” crew!

These gorgeous shimmer bottles come in three different etchings, and make a great addition to your bridesmaid gift boxes, bachelorette party, getting ready photos, or a bar for your wedding reception wine!

Bridesmaid Gift Ideas

If your bridesmaids are local or you plan to meet in person soon, have the bottles shipped directly to your door and enjoy up to 20% off and $10 shipping with the purchase of four bottles or more! Add it to a box or basket with a card, candle, and a bottle of nail polish to match your wedding palette for a gift they’ll cherish forever.

If your bridal party is spread out across the country and you want to “pop” the question by mail, we can help! Order bottles individually with a custom gift note that we’ll print and ship with their shimmery brut, and have them delivered to their homes! We guarantee it will be the happiest mail they’ll receive all year!

Vino Before Vows

Shop our “Will You Be My Bridesmaid?,” “Will You Be My Maid Of Honor?,” and “Happily Ever After” etched shimmer bottles today and enjoy 5% off 4+ bottles, 10% off 6+ bottles, 20% off 12+ bottles, $10 shipping, and 5% back in rewards that can be used for discounts on wine or donated to a ONEHOPE featured nonprofit!

Shop our Etched Shimmer Collection

Cheers to the happy couple!

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What’s a Sipping It Forward Wine Tasting?

Picture this: you’ve just landed in the heart of wine country in Napa Valley, CA. The sun is shining, the vineyards are green and lush, and you’re about to set foot in your first tasting room for the day. You take a seat and read through the menu in anticipation of the word-class wines you are about to enjoy. From the refreshing whites to the robust reds, each varietal is like an entirely new experience. After tasting 6 different wines, you select your favorites to take home, or join the wine club if you decide that a couple of bottles just isn’t enough. You walk out feeling elated, and have a new appreciation for the winemaking process. There’s nothing that could possibly make this experience more memorable, right?

Bring Napa Valley to Your Doorstep!

Sipping It Forward believes that you don’t need to visit wine country to have the Napa Valley tasting room experience. With my ONEHOPE Wine tastings, you can sip award-winning wines with your friends, order your favorites, or join my wine club all while raising money for a nonprofit that’s close to your heart. 

How it Works

Think of me as your ONEHOPE Winery tasting room manager who will pour the wine, walk you through each varietal, and take your orders after you’ve narrowed down your favorites. You as the host will pick a nonprofit to benefit from your event. Next, select 6 wines and receive up to 40% off your order. You can mix and match your favorites, try something new, or have me recommend or select them for you. Last but not least, send out invitations for your wine tasting, and get ready for an unforgettable experience! Once your guests have arrived, the real fun begins! I recommend starting with a toast with ONEHOPE Sparkling Wine to get the party started. Sit back and relax while I walk you and your guests through the ONEHOPE story, savor every sip as I explain the tasting notes of each varietal you’ve selected for the evening.

What’s the Occasion?

If you’re wondering when the best time is to throw a ONEHOPE wine tasting, the answer is anytime! There’s no need to have a special occasion for your tasting, however if you’re looking for some ideas or themes for your event, here are a few recommendations. My wine tastings are great for:

-Birthdays

-Bachelorettes

-Anniversaries

-Bridal showers

-Holiday parties

-Girls night out

-The Bachelor/Bachelorette Viewing Parties

-Fundraisers

-Bubbly brunch

-Back to school night

-and so much more!

Host Your First Tasting!

If you can’t wait to host your first tasting with me, click the link below to learn more and get started. Be sure to tag “Sipping It Forward” on social with pictures from your event for a chance to be featured on my Sipping It Forward Instagram! I look forward to hearing all about it, and seeing what kind of impact you make with the charity of your choice!

Learn more about hosting

Cheers XO,

Ginger

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Winter 2020 Recipes

The season of cozy blankets, fireside chats, board games, and comfort food is upon us! What better way to celebrate than with 3 delicious recipes that are guaranteed to warm you from the inside out! Try the grilled goat cheese, tomato soup, and red wine hot chocolate recipes this winter and let me know what you think!

Follow all the links to see my product recommendations and personal favorites! 

Grilled Goat Cheese with Spinach

Paired with Côtes de Provence Reserve Rosé

Preparation Time: 20 Minutes

Ingredients

-1-2 logs of plain or herb goat cheese

-1 large handful of baby spinach, sliced

-Sourdough bread

-Mayonnaise

-Cooked chicken (optional)

Directions

In a bowl add the goat cheese and spinach and stir to combine. Next, heat up a panini press (see this one on Amazon!)  or skillet (Follow the link to see one that I highly recommend) on high heat.

Add the mayonnaise to the outside of the bread and lay on slice flat on the grill (mayo side down). Add the desired amount of goat cheese, followed by chicken (optional), and place the other slice of bread with mayo side out and flip onto heat if using a skillet.

Wait several minutes to allow the flavors to melt together and the bread to turn golden.

Remove from grill to cool. Cut into quarters for a perfect wine pairing portion!

3-Ingredient Tomato Soup

Paired with ONEHOPE Vintner Sauvignon Blanc

Preparation Time: 45 Minutes

Serves: 4–8 bowls

Ingredients

-¼ cup unsalted butter

-1 28-ounce can tomatoes, whole, peeled or crushed

-1½ cups water, low-sodium vegetable stock, or chicken stock

-½ large onion, cut into large wedges

-½ tsp. fine sea salt, or more to taste

Suggested Toppings

-Fresh Parmesan cheese

-1 cup microgreens

Directions

In a Dutch oven or large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.

Add the can of tomatoes with juice, the water/stock, onion wedges, and salt. Bring to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, for about 40 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding more salt as needed.

Using a blender or an immersion blender, process the soup to your desired consistency. Season to taste.

Serve in small bowls and garnish with Parmesan and microgreens. Enjoy!

Red Wine Hot Chocolate

Preparation Time: Approx. 15 Minutes

Serves: 16-20 mugs

Ingredients

-8 cups milk (1 half gallon)

-1 1/2 cups half and half

-12 oz. dark chocolate chips

-1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

-3 cups ONEHOPE Argentina Uco Valley Malbec (*Exclusive to wine club members!)

Suggested Toppings

-Whipped cream

-Mini marshmallows

-Chocolate shavings

Directions

In a saucepan, add the milk, half and half, chocolate chips, and cocoa powder and cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a whisk.

When it begins to foam, add the wine. Slowly whisk over low heat for an additional 1-2 minutes.

Remove from heat and pour the red wine hot chocolate into mugs and serve with your desired toppings. Cheers!

Stay toasty XO,

Ginger

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How to Style a Bar Cart that Gives Back

Looking for a way to add a little style to your living room? One trend that I’m loving right now is creating a chic bar cart that works as both a decorating and entertaining piece. If you aren’t sure where to begin when it comes to stylizing a bar cart, I’m here to help. Take a look at this infographic below and learn how to style a bar cart with ease. BONUS: All the wine and liquor options displayed here give back to charitable causes, so you can enjoy sipping it forward in style!

What You’ll Need

–Bar Cart: Amazon has some great options! 

–Flutes + Glassware: Checkout these Handmade Mexican Artisan glassware

–Floral Elements: Plants are always a fun addition!

–Shaker + Barware: choose from silver, brass, copper, or wood to match your cart

–ONEHOPE Wine: mix and match your favorite varietals

–Liquor Assortment: we selected 3 brands that all give back to nonprofits

–Letter Board: Amazon has a wide variety to choose from

–Artwork: Not necessary but definitely an added bonus to complete the look! Check out this Llama! 

Bar Cart Styling Tips

Find the space: First thing you’ll need to do is find a space for your bar cart and take some measurements. There are a number of shapes, sizes, and materials to choose from when it comes to selecting a bar cart, so once you find the ideal place in your living or dining room, you can purchase the cart of your dreams.

Buy the pieces: Now that you’ve purchased your bar cart, it’s time to buy the materials to style it! If you don’t already have the glassware, cocktail shaker/kit, letterboard, and vase, we recommend shopping around for some options online or in store! If you can, try and purchase from other like-minded companies that give back. For example, the glass pitcher you see above is from The Little Market, where this purchase supported female artisans at Chabi Chic in Morocco. For less expensive accessories, shop for the pieces you need at Target, Amazon, HomeGoods, Marshalls, or Ross. You’ll be surprised at how much you can find at a reasonable price!

Choose a fun phrase for your letter board: We recommend going with an eye-catching pun or quote that your friends will love. A few options to choose from are: “Everything happens for a Riesling,” “Wine is my spirit animal,” “Does running out of wine count as cardio?,” “Let the evening be gin,” “When life gives you limes, make a margarita,” “Sip sip hooray!”

Select your wines that make an impact: To purchase your ONEHOPE Wine, shop online and buy a few of your favorite bottles that can add a pop of color and variety to your cart. Choose from our mini sparkling wine bottles, our famous glitter bottles, rosés, whites, or reds to add to your bar cart.

Find liquor bottles that give back: For our stylized bar cart, we selected 3 alcohol brands that all give back to nonprofits. The bottles we chose include Absolut Elyx Vodka which provides clean drinking water through the nonprofit Water for People, Bacardi Oakheart Spiced Rum which supports Bacardi’s Disaster Relief Fund, and VIVA XXXII Tequila which donates to organizations that prevent animal abuse.

Organize your accessories: When it comes to styling a bar cart, I always say less is more. Don’t over complicate your cart with too many liquor bottles or barware accessories. Try placing taller bottles and accessories in the back to create some dimension, and aim for a few inches of space between each item or grouping of accessories.

Next, play around with placement, but I suggest keeping items that go together close by. For example, on the first level of my cart, I included floral/living elements, wine bottles, and some fun glassware including a colored pitcher and champagne flutes to complete the top. On the second level of my cart, I added 3 liquor bottles, moscow mule mugs, a shaker and muddler, and some bottled simple syrups with the letter board in the center. I kept all of my wine accessories on the top, and my cocktail accessories on the bottom.

Show Me Your Bar Cart on Social!

Ready to get stylin’? Once your bar cart is all set up, snap a picture and share it with me on social by tagging #SippingItForward for a chance to be featured on my page! I can’t wait to see how you’ve styled your bar cart that gives back!

Cheers & XO,

Ginger @ Sipping It Forward 

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Cranberry Cheer Cocktail

If you’re searching for a festive holiday drink to enjoy this season, look no further. I’ve concocted the perfect 5-ingredient cocktail that’s as stunning as it is delicious. Impress your guests with this Cranberry Cheer Cocktail recipe below! 

Ingredients:

-1oz gin

-2oz cranberry juice

–ONEHOPE Celebration Brut Sparkling Wine

-Rosemary sprigs

-Sugared cranberries (or fresh non-sugared cranberries)

Directions:

Remove a ⅓ of the leaves from a sprig of rosemary and slide 3 sugared (or non-sugared) cranberries onto the stem. Set aside for garnish.

Add 1oz gin and 2oz cranberry juice to a cocktail glass. Top with chilled

ONEHOPE sparkling wine and garnish with your rosemary and cranberry sprig. 

How easy is that?! I hope you love this gorgeous cranberry cocktail as much as I do!

Cheers XO,

Ginger @ sippingitforward.org