If you love Sangria, you need to try this ‘ugly’ wine and Coca-Cola cocktail

Wine snobs, look away now (Picture: Robertson Buckhaven) Lady Gaga drinks her red wine with maraschino cherries and Diet Coke; she admitted it in a Vanity Fair lie detector interview, so it must be true. And she’s not the only one. If you’re a wine snob, you need to look away now. However, if you’re a fan of Sangria who wants to taste something similar but a bit different, you may just be about to find your new favourite cocktail. Anyone who’s been to Spain might already have tried this drink and have strong opinions about it. Anyone who hasn’t, you’ll either recoil in horror or raise your eyebrows in curiosity… or both. What is it? Meet the Calimocho, or Kalimotxo, as it’s spelt in its native Basque Country. It’s pronounced ‘cali-MO-cho’, and is a mixture of red wine and Coca-Cola. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. I’ll give you a minute to process the concept. I get it, it sounds like a crime scene to lovers of fine wine, but that’s why you never use an expensive wine to make it. Like Sangria, but different (Picture: Robertson Buckhaven) Being a hot nation, the Spanish can’t get enough of the controversial cocktail, as it as it’s fruity, refreshing and surprisingly balanced. The cola softens the wines tannic edges, lifts its fruit and adds a gentle sweetness in the equation. It transforms regular plonk into something closer to a summer punch. And it’s not just Spain that loves itself a Calimocho either. In Croatia, the same drink, known as Bambus, is incredibly popular in neighbourhood cafes and bars, while in Chile and Argentina, the drink is commonly enjoyed at asados (barbecues) and casual gatherings. You’ll also find it over in Germany where it goes by the name of Kalte Muschi, and in the US, Calimocho is enjoyed in Spanish-style bars — particularly in Austin, Texas for some reason. How to make the perfect Calimocho at home Brace yourselves, this is possibly the simplest ‘cocktail’ recipe in existence. As you’d expect, bartenders have sought to make the Calimocho more complex by adding ingredients like bitters, vermouth, even Fernet Branca for the love of all things herbal. The original recipe simply calls for equal parts cheap red wine and cola, though Lady Gaga adds her own twist with maraschino cherries. Garnish the drink however you want, though typically you’ll find it with a slice of lemon, lime or orange. Don’t forget the ice either — and lots of it. Fill a highball glass with decent-sized ice cubes. A great tip is to leave them to sit for a minute once they’re out of the freezer, so the layer of frost melts and doesn’t instantly dilute your drink. Plus, they won’t crack. Pour 120ml of a young, inexpensive red wine over the ice, I’d recommend a young Rioja or Garnacha from Spain. Then, crack open a can of your favourite version of Coca-Cola and pour it over the red wine. Add a squeeze of lemon juice for added brightness, stir once and garnish with a slice of lemon or orange. If you find the red wine you’ve used is a bit tannic or bitter, add in a small pinch of salt to take the edge off. How was it invented? Legend has it, the Calimocho was created during the Saint Nicholas festivities — or Las Fiestas de San Nicolás, to be precise — in the Old Port of Algorta near Bilbao in 1972. The organisers realised that the 2,000 litres of cheap red wine they were serving had become oxidised and sherry-like. Probably due to the heat, so the wine will have been essentially cooked under the scorching sun, so they panicked and added equal parts Coca-Cola to disguise the disgusting taste. It worked, but only after they’d tried it with a number of other mixers that didn’t turn out so well. The only problem? They now needed to sell 4,000 litres of this new drink to get rid of the wine stock. The concept of mixing red wine and cola actually dates back further than the 70, though. Rewind to 1920’s Spain, and this popular concoction went by the name of Rioja Libre or Tincola — but in those days, it used imported cola alternatives, as Coca-Cola didn’t operate in Spain until the 50s. Would you try the Calimocho cocktail? Definitely, it sounds interesting!Check Maybe, I'm curious about it.Check Probably not, it doesn't sound appealing.Check Sign up to Metro's The Slice newsletter for your guide to what's on in London, with trusted reviews, offers and giveaways. What does the name mean? The group of friends organising the festivities, known as the ‘Antzarrak Squad’ or ‘Geese Squad’ in Basque (don’t ask why) named the drink after an unfortunate member of their group, nicknamed ‘Kali’ and added the word, ‘Motxo’, meaning ugly in Basque. It’s not entirely clear whether the ‘ugly’ in the name refers to poor old Kali, or the gone-off wine. Deals of the Day Wuka launches the UK’s first period-proof swimwear for heavy flows Bridgerton fans are rushing to buy these new Netflix-inspired perfumes now £12 off The affordable summer wardrobe update you'll wear from rooftop drinks to beach holidays The £7.99 lip balm beauty fans love for glossy, hydrated lips just dropped four new shades This Keskine hydrogel mask could fix your summer skin Either way, some time later, Coca-Cola registered the name of the drink. And these days, even the Royal Academy of Language acknowledges the term ‘Calimocho’ as the name for the drink comprising red wine and Cola-Cola. Do you have a story you’d like to share? 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