It's A Southern Thing

Cheerwine is a cherry flavored soft drink produced by the Carolina Beverage Corporation of Salisbury, North Carolina. It has been produced since 1917 by the oldest continuing soft drink company still run by the same family.

Cheerwine has a mildly sweet flavor with strong cherry notes, most notably black cherry. It is burgundy-colored, and has an unusually high degree of carbonation compared to other soft drinks. The product was named for its color and taste. 
The taste reminds me of a Dr. Pepper but with a cherry twist to it. 
It is sweetened with cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup. Despite its name, Cheerwine is not really a wine and contains no alcohol.

Cheerwine is available in much of the Southeast United States from West Virginia south to Florida, but is better known in the Carolinas and Virginia. It can be found in some speciality stores throughout the country. I was surprised to learn it can be found in Norway. 
  
Cheerwine Cake
Cook's notes: Perhaps you have heard of cola added to salads but how about a cola cake? Cheerwine cake looks like a Red Velvet Cake. It's moistness comes from buttermilk and the flavor is enhanced with cherry cola. The chocolate cherry flavored icing goes on the warm cake much like making a Texas Sheet cake. Even if Cheerwine is not available in your area the same great flavor  can be achieved by using cherry cola. All very yummy!
Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup margarine 
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 cup Cheerwine or Cherry Coca-Cola (room temperature)
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla

Frosting Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup cherry cola or Cheerwine
• 5 TB. margarine or butter
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 4 TB. maraschino juice
• 2- 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• optional adding 1 cup chopped toasted walnuts on top

Cake Directions:

• Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
•  Grease a 9×13 inch pan well with butter or shortening.
• In a mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda and cinnamon
• In a small saucepan combine the butter, cocoa powder, Cheerwine or cherry cola and buttermilk
• Stir over medium heat until butter has melted and mixture is combined.
• Remove chocolate mixture from heat, with the mixer running on low, slowly pour into the flour mixture
• Add in eggs one at a time, then the vanilla,mix until well combined
• Pour into prepared baking pan and bake 25- 30 minutes

Frosting Directions: 

• In a large saucepan, combine the butter or margarine, cocoa powder, Cheerwine or cherry cola  and maraschino juice. Bring to a boil, remove from heat, add in almond extract
• Whisk in 4 cups of confectioner’s sugar until smooth.
• Pour the frosting over the warm cake. Let cake sit for at least 2 hours before cutting, or even overnight. I’ve found the cake is even better on the second day than it is on the first!

Source: adapted from mayflaum.com
Shortcut version of Cheerwine Cake
Ingredients:

• 1 box devil's food cake mix
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1- 1/3 cups cherry cola or Cheerwine
• 1 teaspoon almond extract

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350, grease and flour a 13x9 pan
• Mix cake mix, eggs, oil and substitute Cheerwine or cherry cola for the water
• Add in the almond extract, mix well and bake 25-30 minutes
• Frost 10 minutes after removal from the oven.

Do not use oil in the water when boiling pasta: It will keep the sauce from sticking to the cooked pasta.