🍂 Caramel Apple Crunch: A Cozy Fall Cocktail in Indianapolis

Brent
Oct 8
3 min read

Updated: Oct 14

Caramel Apple Crunch the ultimate cozy fall wine cocktail in Indianapolis

If you could bottle the feeling of slipping on a cozy sweater, crunching through leaves, and taking that first sip of apple cider at the orchard — it would taste like Caramel Apple Crunch.

This indulgent, nostalgia-packed cocktail is our October Cocktail of the Month at The Rejoicing Vine, and it’s here to make your fall weekends in Indy extra sweet. Think apple picking meets winery bliss, complete with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and crushed peanuts for that perfect dessert-like finish.

Whether you’re cozying up by the fire pit, hosting a fall gathering, or looking for a delicious stop after a day of pumpkin patch hopping — this is the ultimate fall cocktail experience in Indianapolis.

🍏 The Recipe for this Fall Cocktail in Indianapolis

3 oz Riesling Natúr
3 oz apple cider (for best results get fresh cider from a local orchard like Beasley's in Danville or Stuckey Farms in Sheridan)
½ oz lime juice
½ oz simple syrup

Add the Riesling Natúr into a caramel and crushed peanut rimmed glass.

Add the remaining incredients to a shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into the glass pouring slowly to avoid bubbling over the rim.

Top with whipped cream, caramel sauce, and crushed peanuts.

Sweet, tart, creamy, and crunchy — it’s everything you love about fall wrapped in a sparkling sip.

⚠️ NERD ALERT!

Things are about to get delightfully dorky. Side effects may include learning, laughter, and an uncontrollable urge to sip slowly and savor.

Creating a great beverage, whether it's a cocktail or a bottle of wine, often comes down to balancing elements like acid and sweetness. Let’s talk Riesling — the star of this cocktail. Riesling is one of the more cold-hardy Vitis Vinifera varieties (grapes that evolved and cultivated in Europe). Grapes grown in cooler climates (like Indiana) will produce higher acid wines. This is one reason you often find sweet wines in Indiana and other cold-climate regions like New York's Finger Lakes or Germany's Mosel and Rheingau - all world renowned for their Riesling. That high acidity is why you often find Riesling wines with a little sweetness (think lemons + sugar => lemonade = delicious).

Riesling-based wines are known for their natural green apple notes and our Riesling Natúr has lots of green apple. On top of the green apple notes, our Riesling is finished bone-dry and super crisp making it perfect for fall pairings. Its extra crisp acidity balances the sweetness of apple cider and caramel, giving this drink that chef’s kiss harmony of tart and sweet.

Wanna learn more about balance with food and wine? We have an amazing educational and exploration class called "Corks & Curds" where you'll explore the world of wine tasting and cheese pairing. Find the next scheduled Corks & Curds class here.

🌿 Cultivate Life, Cozy Edition

At The Rejoicing Vine, we believe in celebrating the seasons with purpose and joy — from the vineyard to your glass. Fall is our time to slow down, gather with friends, and savor life’s simple pleasures.

Whether you’re apple picking near Indianapolis, strolling through the fall colors, or warming up by our firepits during The Happiest Hour, this cocktail fits right in. It’s a sip of the season, sustainably crafted and full of sparkle.

✨ Visit Us This Fall

Looking to extend fall activities in Indianapolis like apple picking at Beasley's Orchard, corn mazes at Hogan's Farm in Brownsburg, or Pumpkin Palooza at Driving Winds Farm in Indianapolis? Come join us at The Rejoicing Vine for a tasting, a cocktail, or just a cozy afternoon surrounded by good people and great wine.