Light Summer Wine Cocktails

I was out this past weekend with my partner at a San Francisco dessert restaurant called Candy Bar (which was fantastic) and saw on their menu all of these wonderful drinks that were using a Champagne base. As summer is coming I thought it would be fun to introduce a few slightly different cocktails using wine. What is really nice about all of these is that when you make a cocktail you can use much more inexpensive wine or sparkling wine because the nuances of the flavor are not going to be very pronounced. So, let’s venture away from the Mimosa and Bellini (though right now this would be fantastic with fresh squeezed peach nectar) and look at some other summer options.

From Candy Bar, the Strawberry Kiss: Champagne, Ginger Ale, and a frozen strawberry. I would so 2/3 Champagne (or sparkling wine) and 1/3 Ginger Ale, but if you like sweetness I would even out that proportion to be closer to 1/2 and 1/2.

Sangria: The best Sangria I ever had used Brandy for a special punch.

1 orange, sliced.

1 lime, sliced.

1 lemon, sliced.

4 oz simple sugar (more to taste) (or 1/4 cup granulated)

6 oz fresh squeezed orange juice

2 oz fresh squeezed lime juice.

5 shots brandy

1 bottle of dry red wine.

Placed the sliced fruit in a pitcher with the simple syrup and muddle (mash a little bit with a spoon). Pour over the orange juice, lime juice, brandy, and wine. Let sit in the refrigerator for as long as possible, at least 2-3 hours. Pour over ice and serve.

Flirtini: Remember this from Sex and the City? It’s great for summer!

1/2 oz Cointreau

1/2 oz Vodka

1 oz pineapple juice

3 oz champagne (sparkling wine)

Place Cointreau, Vodka, Pineapple juice into a martini shaker add ice, shake, and strain into a martini glass. Top with champagne. Garnish with pineapple. Enjoy!

Late Harvest Wine and Campari Cocktails (from Food and Wine):

3 and 3/4 cups late harvest wine, such as Riesling.

2 1/4 cups fresh orange juice

1 cup Campari

Ice, for serving.

Mix all ingredients (except ice) together in a pitcher. Refrigerate for 2 hours. Pour over ice into 10 glasses. Enjoy!

Of course, I am always happy grilling with a chilled Rose. I personally like a nice, full bodied Rosé and many of my favorite wineries have one come summer. Go ask your local store about what is good, it might surprise you!