Wine-infused coffee launched

Napa Valley café owner Rick Molinari has teamed up with local winemakers in the California region to launch the world’s first red wine-infused coffee.

Molinari spent over two years developing the recipe for Molinari Private Reserve with John Weaver of Wild Card Roasters.

Carefully selected coffee beans “relax” in a Napa Valley red wine to absorb its flavours and aromas then get dried and hand-roasted in small batches.

The result, according to Mollinari, is an alcohol free “rich full-bodied coffee with a blueberry note” that works well as a filter coffee, iced coffee, espresso or latte.

Milk brings out the wine flavour in the coffee, while the French Press emphasises the blueberry notes. Its makers suggest leaving the coffee to breathe for optimum flavour.

Molinari Private Reserve is on sale for $19.95 for a half-pound bag at the Molinari Caffe, Robert Mondavi Winery, Franciscan Estate Winery and JCB Wines. It is also available to buy online and will soon be sold on several cruise liners and at a number of hotels.

While this is the first wine-infused coffee to go on sale, it isn’t the first time the two have been combined. The godfather of Californian wine, Robert Mondavi, was famous for enjoying his morning coffee with a splash of wine.

Spirits makers are also in on the act. Last April Bulleit Bourbon released a limited edition Bourbon-infused coffee in partnership with London coffee house, The Gentleman Baristas.

In January Jack Daniel’s teamed up with World of Coffee on a Tennessee Whiskey-flavoured coffee made from 100% Arabica beans.