Refreshing Wine Cocktails for Summer

As the sun graces us with its warm presence, our taste buds yearn for cool and refreshing libations. While wine is often enjoyed straight from the bottle, it's also the perfect base for crafting delicious and refreshing cocktails, especially during the sizzling summer months! In this DIY guide, we'll explore some delightful wine-based summer cocktails and discuss the wines best suited for these concoctions. 

The Classic Wine Spritzer:

Ingredients:

• 120 ml white wine (such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio)
• 60 ml sparkling water
• 30 ml simple syrup
• Fresh lemon or lime slices

Method: 

1. Fill a glass with ice.
2. Add white wine and sparkling water.
3. Stir in simple syrup to taste.
4. Garnish with lemon or lime slices.

Sangria:

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle of red wine (like a fruity Tempranillo)
• 1/4 cup brandy
• 1/4 cup orange liqueur
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 oranges, sliced
• 2 lemons, sliced
• 1 apple, chopped
• 1 cup club soda

Method:

1. In a pitcher, combine the wine, brandy, orange liqueur, and sugar.
2. Stir in the sliced oranges, lemons, and chopped apple.
3. Chill for at least two hours.
4. Add club soda before serving.

Rosé Lemonade:

Ingredients: 

• 120 ml rosé wine
• 60 ml lemonade
• 30 ml elderflower liqueur
• Fresh mint leaves 

Method:

1. Fill a glass with ice.
2. Combine rosé, lemonade, and elderflower liqueur.
3. Stir gently.
4. Garnish with fresh mint leaves.

Peach Bellini:

Ingredients:

• 60 ml prosecco
• 30 ml peach purée
• 15 ml peach schnapps
• Fresh peach slice (for garnish)

Method:

1. In a flute, combine peach purée and schnapps.
2. Top with prosecco.
3. Garnish with a fresh peach slice.

Sparkling White Wine Mojito:

Ingredients:

• 120 ml sparkling white wine (such as a crisp Chardonnay)
• 30 ml white rum
• 30 ml fresh lime juice
• 10 ml sugar
• Fresh mint leaves
• Lime slices

Method:

1. Muddle sugar, lime juice, and mint leaves in a glass.
2. Add ice, white rum, and sparkling white wine.
3. Stir gently.
4. Garnish with lime slices and additional mint leaves.

Choosing the Right Wine

When crafting wine-based summer cocktails, select wines that are light, fruity, and crisp. White wines like Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Grigio work well for spritzers and mojitos, while red wines like Tempranillo are ideal for sangria. Rosé wines, with their refreshing and versatile character, are a great choice for cocktails like Rosé Lemonade.

Whether you're lounging by the pool, hosting a barbecue, or simply enjoying the sunshine on your patio, these wine cocktails can be your go-to refreshers this summer! Serve them up in some of our stunning glassware to impress any guests, or simply to enjoy yourself! 

And remember, a wine fridge can help you store your favourite wine bottles at the perfect temperature, ensuring that you're always ready to whip up a delicious summer concoction. From small fridges for the casual wine lover to large-capacity fridges for the esteemed collector, Grand Cru has a fridge for everyone!