Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Sift the dry ingredients together in a bowl and set aside.

Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the mixing paddle, beat the sugar with the oil and wine on medium high speed for about 5 minutes.

With the mixer running, slowly incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet until a smooth dough forms. Add the chopped almonds and incorporate well.

Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and gently knead. If the dough is still very sticky, you can add a bit more flour. Allow the dough to rest a bit before shaping.

To shape the cookies, pinch off a piece of dough about the size of a walnut. Roll out a cord or thin tube of dough about the length of a dinner knife. Fold in half then twist two times.

If you’d like, you can also roll out the dough into ½ inch thick sheets and use a cutter to shape your cookies.

Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for about 15 minutes or until nicely golden brown.