quintessential summer sips

by Lisa Truesdale

chill out with a wine spritzer on a sweltering summer day

CRISP, LIGHT AND LOW-CAL, wine spritzers are the perfect cocktail for hot days—even the name sounds refreshing! Summery fresh and endlessly adaptable, wine spritzers are also super-simple to make. All you need is wine (any color) and a sparkling mixer, like seltzer (plain or flavored), club soda, tonic or Sprite. The classic recipe combines three parts wine with one part soda, though some mixologists advocate for a 50-50 ratio. Grab your favorite locally produced wine, toss in slices or chunks of fresh, in-season fruit you picked up at the farmers market, and you’ve got an instant crowd-pleaser for patio parties and picnics all summer long.

Spritzer Tips

• Choose a wine with a fruity flavor and mild tannins, like riesling, sauvignon blanc or pinot noir. Fizzing up a bad wine won’t magically make it taste better, so use a wine you’d also enjoy drinking by itself.
• Make sure your wine and seltzer are VERY cold. Use lots of ice, but the traditional kind will melt quickly in the summer sun, ruining this drink’s aesthetic appeal and watering it down. Consider reusable cubes, like those made from stainless steel or soapstone. Or, freeze your fruit (after it’s cut) before making your spritzers and use it as ice.
• Fancy up your presentation (and enhance the flavor profile) with sprigs of fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, mint or basil.
• For parties, create a “make your own” station. Offer three different wines, three different sparkling beverages, and an assortment of fresh fruit and let guests get creative.

Combos to Try
Casa Rondeña 2019 Serenade + club soda + sliced apricots or peaches, or watermelon chunks with cucumber

Noisy Water 2020 Riesling + BlueFly Farms’ lavender sparkling water + strawberries and/or lemon slices

Vara Viura Vino Blanco Espanol + Sprite or 7-UP + strawberries and blueberries or blackberries (so festive for the 4th of July)