What Spanish cocktail mixes red wine and cola?

The Spanish cocktail that mixes red wine and cola is kalimotxo, also spelled calimocho.

The basic drink uses roughly equal parts red wine and cola, usually poured over ice. Its simplicity and inexpensive ingredients have made it a popular casual drink at festivals, parties, and outdoor gatherings. The cola adds sweetness and carbonation, while the wine supplies the alcoholic base.

The drink is particularly associated with the Basque Country. Red wine and cola combinations existed earlier, but the name kalimotxo is commonly linked to a 1972 festival in Algorta, Biscay. According to the popular origin story, it combines the nicknames Kalimero and Motxongo, two people associated with serving the mixture.

Kalimotxo is often confused with sangría or tinto de verano. Sangría usually contains wine mixed with fruit and other flavorings, while tinto de verano traditionally combines red wine with a carbonated citrus beverage such as gaseosa or lemon soda. Kalimotxo’s defining mixer is cola.