Media Release, May 2025
The cost of living has gone up, but so has Australians’ appetite for cocktails. According to NielsenIQ, 32% of Australians say they’re drinking more cocktails than ever before and cocktails are now the number-one drink consumers trade up to, often seen as a small luxury or weekend indulgence. But with prices at venues on the rise and younger drinkers leading the shift toward more versatile, alternative beverages; cocktails are moving beyond special occasions and into everyday moments. Sparked by pandemic lockdowns and economic pressures, the home bar has become the new happy hour and wine is quietly taking centre stage.
This shift reflects a broader change in drinking habits. Today’s drinkers are looking for creativity without complexity, and flavour without the fuss. Wine cocktails strike the perfect balance: they feel premium without the overhead and offer a lighter, more sessionable alternative. With its natural acidity, fruit-forward profile and versatility, wine makes an ideal base for cocktails that are both satisfying and simple.
De Bortoli Wines is embracing this change with a newly released collection of wine cocktail recipes designed to offer Australians a fresh, flexible way to enjoy their favourite wines. From zesty spritzes to indulgent after-dinner drinks, the collection blends De Bortoli’s most loved wines — including Noble One and De Bortoli's popular Sparkling wine — with easy-to-find ingredients to create creative and approachable cocktails. The collection also features ideas using the company’s latest additions, Limoncello Spritz and Chill Bill, offering a fun, low-fuss approach to premium drinking.
Consumer insights show a clear appetite for convenience, ease and low-waste options. Australians are increasingly looking for drinks they can make using what they already have at home, a bottle of wine, some fresh fruit, herbs, or soda without having to follow complex recipes. Wine-based cocktails tick all the boxes: they’re simple to make, easy to customise, and perfect for sharing.
Whether it’s a Noble Sour or a Lychee & Mint Sparkling, De Bortoli’s wine cocktails reflect the way Australians are drinking now: creatively, consciously, and socially. No elaborate skills or ingredients required, just a bottle of wine, a few familiar mixers, and the willingness to stir up something different.
Explore the full collection of wine cocktail recipes at:
https://www.debortoli.com.au/wines/food-matching/recipes/wine-cocktails
-ENDS-
Media Contact: Kruti Shetty
kruti_shetty@debortoli.com.au
About De Bortoli
De Bortoli Wines is a family wine company established in 1928, and today is under the custodianship of the third generation, Darren, Leanne, Kevin and Victor De Bortoli. Theirs is a story of a hardworking and innovative family who considered good wine, good food and good friends to be part of everyday life. De Bortoli's philosophy is that great wine begins in the vineyard and should reflect the region where the grapes that made it are grown. For further information: debortoli.com.au.
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