Clear skies, patios, cheeks pink from the sun, cool terraces, long days with warm evenings… All signs that summer is almost here. After a harsh and seemingly never-ending winter, nothing feels better than leaving days of sluggish grey skies behind with a celebration of the arrival of summer with your friends.
Whether you’re having a girls’ night or you’ve volunteered to be the designated drinks person for a nice day at the beach, these five wine cocktails will have your friends thanking you and asking for the recipe!
1. Raspberry Lemon Sangria
Sangria… A summer must. This refreshing seasonal classic will have you and your friends dreaming of blue, lazy summers on the Spanish coast. Try this Sangria with a pinot grigio – it will add a rich, floral aroma and complement the raspberry and lemon perfectly.
What you need: (2 servings)
- 1 bottle of pinot grigio
- a dozen raspberries
- 3 lemons
- ¼ cup agave syrup
- a splash of lemon-lime soda
Directions:
Combine pinot grigio and juice of 1 lemon in a large pitcher. Slice the remaining 2 lemons in thin rounds and add them along with the agave syrup and lemon-lime soda. Lightly stir. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavours to infuse. Serve with or without ice.
(Source: Ecco Domani)
2. Orange and Red Wine Spritzer
Spritzers are amazing because they allow you to have a glass of wine without overdoing it on the booze. It’s also an amazing way of bluffing your way through the happy hour; spend your money on accessories such as fresh garnishes and club sodas and still impress your friends. It’s a win-win!
What you need: (2 servings)
- ½ cup merlot
- ¼ cup orange juice
- ½ cup club soda
- 3-5 dashes of orange bitters
- ½ tablespoon cinnamon simple syrup (½ cup water, ½ cup sugar, 3 cinnamon sticks broken in pieces)
Directions:
For the cinnamon simple syrup, combine the ingredients in a small pot. Bring to a boil and the turn off heat. Let sit for 2-3 hours, then strain out the cinnamon sticks.
In a glass filled with ice, combine the red wine, orange juice and cinnamon simple syrup. Stir well. Top with soda water and orange bitters to taste. Serve immediately.
(Source: Ecco Domani)
3. Sparkling Plum and Thyme Cocktail
Beat the summer heat with this amazing sparkling cocktail! Use prosecco for tropical notes that will give a light, frothy effect to the plum and thyme. This dreamy prosecco cocktail has Girls’ Friday Night written all over it.
What you need: (2 servings)
- 1 bottle of prosecco
- 2 Plums (peeled and chopped)
- 6 Thyme Sprigs
- Lemon juice (1 lemon)
- 4 tablespoons of thyme simple syrup (1/2 cup of sugar, ½ cup of water, bring to a boil and remove from hear, add thyme sprigs, stir and let cool)
Directions:
Muddle the plums with the thyme simple syrup and lemon juice until the plums release all of their juice. (Optional: Shake with ice in a cocktail shaker.) Pour it over crushed ice into the glasses. Top off with prosecco and garnish with extra plum slices and thyme. Serve immediately.
(Source: Ecco Domani)
4. The Star Gazer
Vanilla and pineapple combo doesn’t sound like the greatest duo, but don’t be put off by the name; The Star Gazer actually has a very soft, sweet taste to it. You could use any white wine you want, but I personally prefer chardonnay since the oakiness complements the vanilla surprisingly good. Great for both actually stargazing and sun bathing!
What you need: (1 serving)
- ¼ cup chardonnay
- 2 tablespoons dark rum
- 1 tablespoon vanilla bean syrup
- 1 tablespoon pineapple juice
Directions:
Combine the ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. If you don’t own a shaker, combine them in a glass and make sure to stir well, and serve with ice.
(Source: Cosmopolitan)
5. Frosé (Frozen Rosé)
If you are a rosé fan, then this is for you. It’s frosty, pink, and perfect to sip on warm, breezy summer days. Not to mention it looks extremely Instagrammable!
What you need: (4 servings)
- 1 bottle of rosé (Important: try choosing a full-bodied, dark coloured rosé for freezing, such as pinot noir or merlot rosé)
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 cup strawberries, quartered
- 5 tablespoons of lemon juice
Directions:
Freeze rosé until almost solid for at least 6-7 hours.
Bring sugar and ½ cup water to a boil until sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes. Add strawberries, remove from heat, and let sit 30 minutes. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into another bowl . Cover and chill until cold for 30 minutes.
Put the frozen rosé into a blender. Add lemon juice, 7 tablespoons of strawberry syrup and 1 cup crushed ice. Purée until smooth. Put blender jar in the freezer and keep it there until the mixture is thickened (about 25-35 minutes).
Once out of the freezer, blend it again until the mixture is slushy. Serve immediately.
(Source: bonappetit)
