Classic Summer Wine Cocktails

As the weather warms up, it’s time to think of ways to keep cool. Weekends mean time at the pool, stretching out on the porch, and neighborhood barbecues (and picnics and festivals and beaches, oh my!). We’ve put together a list of classic wine cocktails, all the more enjoyable for their simplicity. With a small splash of liquor, or fruit puree, or some fresh berries, you can explore the tastes of France, Italy, and Spain – without leaving the cool shade of your own backyard.

Kir/Kir Royale

1 part black currant liqueur + 5 parts white wine + 1 lemon twist = kir

The kir (pronounced keer) originates from Burgundy, France. Traditionally, the wine cocktail is made with crème de cassis (black currant liqueur) and Aligoté (a light, acidic white wine from Burgundy). Of course, you can add black currant liqueur to a variety of white wines to get the refreshing sweetness associated with the kir. I do recommend a lighter white, like a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, but there certainly will be no Wine Police chasing you down if you decide on a full-bodied Chardonnay.

A kir royale (keer roy-ALL) is simply crème de cassis and Champagne. In my heart of hearts, though, I can’t recommend that you spoil deliciously expensive, true Champagne by any additions; instead, try a touch of crème de cassis to sparkling wine from California or Spain.

Enhance your kir or kir royale with a lemon twist. Lemon twists are easy: use a vegetable peeler to get a thin (you want none of the bitter, white pith) strip of lemon peel, and simply twist it. Twisting the peel releases the skin’s aromatic oils; run the peel around the top of your glass, and either drop the twist in your drink, or let it hang languorously on the lip.

Bellini

1 part peach puree + 3 parts sparkling wine = Bellini

The Bellini comes by way of Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy (which has been quite the source of culinary creations, as it also claims to be the first to have served Carpaccio). A Bellini is simply fresh peach puree, topped with sparkling white wine. In Venice, the traditional formula involves white peaches and Prosecco, a sparkling white wine that comes from the region.

Enjoy your Bellini in a Champagne flute, topped with a slice of fresh peach, or a lemon or orange twist, for an extra special touch.

Sangria

1 bottle red wine + 1 lemon, sliced + 1 orange, sliced + 1 apple, sliced + 1/4 cup cranberry juice + 2 tablespoons sugar + 1 shot brandy = red wine sangria

1 bottle white wine + 1 lemon, sliced + 1 cup strawberries, sliced + 1 cup raspberries + 1 tablespoon honey + 1 cup club soda = white wine sangria

“Sangría” is a Spanish term, translated loosely into English as “bleeding” or (so says my dictionary) “phlebotomy”. Perhaps the term comes from the color of the wine, or how the cocktail’s fruit components ooze out sweet flavor, but whatever its murky origins, sangria means something delicious. This is one of the more versatile wine cocktails, so I give the above recipes as something as a starting point. The basic formula is wine and fruit and a touch of sweetener, and perhaps a touch of liquor and/or carbonation (like club soda or Sprite). If you have a favorite sangria recipe, I’d love to hear it.

On that note, who has a particularly good wine cocktail, classic or not, that would be perfect for summer? Have you had a great wine cocktail somewhere, but aren’t sure how to make it? If you describe where and when you had what you had, we could figure it out together!

Tags: Bellini, kir, kir royale, sangria, wine cocktails