Sangria, vermouth and the ancient Rome wine "a mixture of wine, spices, honey and other ingredients" show that wine has always been used as a basic component to make the most varied combinations. In our times, the rise of mixology vindicates a new leading role for wine. We got into it with four very different proposals.
1. White Spritz
(For 4) Half a bottle of Muriel Fincas de la Villa Blanco 2017 (DOCa Rioja)
1 2-inch piece peeled coarsely chopped fresh ginger
2 ounces fresh lime juice
2 ounces simple syrup
Club soda
Mint sprigs
Muddle ginger in a cocktail shaker. Add lime juice and simple syrup. Fill shaker with ice, cover, and shake vigorously until outside of shaker is frosty, about 30 seconds. Strain into 4 ice-filled rocks glasses or large wine glasses. Add Muriel Blanco to each and top off with club soda. Gently stir together; garnish with mint. Refreshing!
2. Albariño 'Paloma'
(For 4) Half a bottle of Pazo Cilleiro Albariño 2017 (DO Rías Baixas)
The juice of 1/2 grapefruit
1 Tbsp Sugar
1/2 oz Lime Juice
Splash sparkling water
Salt for rimming
Rim the glasses with salt. Mix Pazo Cilleiro Albariño with sugar, grapefruit juice and lime juice in a mixing glass. Add ice. Then stir until sugar is dissolved and the mix is cold. Serve it in the rimmed glasses and decorate with lime slices. Atlantic freshness!
3. Frosé o Frozen Rosé
(For 4) Half a bottle of Viña Eguía Rosado 2017 (DOCa Rioja)
1/2 cup sugar
Large handful raspberries (around 20)
The juice of 1 small lemon
A few hours before, pour Viña Eguía Rosado into a largish baking dish and place it in the freezer. It won't freeze completely because of the alcohol in it, but it will turn into a very boozy slush. Pour the sugar into a small saucepan and add half a cup of water. Heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar dissolves. Crush the raspberries up with your hands and add them to the sugar/water mixture. Let it all sit for a couple of minutes (preferably in the freezer), and then strain out the liquid (you can discard the solids).
Remove the frozen rosé from freezer and scrape it into a blender. Add the raspberry simple syrup you made, the lemon juice, and about a cup of crushed ice. Pulse until smooth, and drink immediately. Delicious!
4. Red Ice
(For 4) Half a bottle of Muriel Fincas de la Villa Crianza 2015 (DOCa Rioja)
A bottle or can of raspberry or blackcurrant soda
A handful of blackberries and blueberries
Ice cubes moulds, better if round
The first step to create this sugar-free spritzer is to prepare your wine ice cubes overnight. Dilute Muriel Crianza red wine with a bit of water to help the freezing process (we use a 3:1 wine:water ratio). Fill the moulds; for an extra berry twist try adding some berries to the mould. Onze you get the wine ice cubes, fill each glass with them and pour the soda. Decorate with some berries. Surprising!
Head photo by Edi Libedinsky on Unsplash
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