Mixing it up
In which we horrify traditionalists by suggesting a few wine cocktails for the summer.
I was on a flight to Sicily last weekend (I’ll be writing more on my wine experience there in a later post) and, as is usual, the cabin crew came round with the obligatory drinks and snacks. Given I was on my way to a stag weekend, I felt justified in enjoying a small beer to keep me ticking over. But before I could get my order in, the two Spanish gents beside me ordered a red wine, a Coke, and two glasses of ice.
Now, if there are any Spaniards out there, you may have an idea of what’s coming. But if you’ve never enjoyed any teenage drinking in Spain, you may want to brace yourself. Because my esteemed travelling companions were about to mix up what in Spain is known as a calimocho (or kalimotxo as it is known in the Basque Country, where I’m told it was invented).
Calimocho is red wine mixed with Coca-Cola and is a favourite of Spanish teenagers who can’t afford much in the way of alcohol and are looking for a way to make a Tetra Brik of red wine taste decent – and go a bit further. If you’ve ever been a student or drunk very cheap red wine, you can understand the logic here. But I have to say I was baffled to see two fully grown men, who clearly had the wherewithal to pay for a trip to Sicily, taking a relatively drinkable red wine and mixing it with Coke. Why?!!
But as the flight went on, and I pondered it a bit further, my stance started to soften. At first glance, mixing red wine and Coke may feel sacrilegious. But there are quite a few drinks out there that combine wine with mixers that we would barely bat an eyelid at. And in some cases, we hold them in the highest esteem.
Don’t believe me? Well, let’s run through a few.
For a start, you’ve got the classic White Wine Spritzer, a mix of white wine and soda that is perfectly acceptable in just about any bar in the UK – especially now the thermometers are going into overdrive. Here in Spain, they have an equivalent called Tinto de Verano (literally ‘Summer Red’). It’s essentially the red wine equivalent of a spritzer and uses the local gaseosa – a slightly sweetened version of soda water. If you’ve got an even sweeter tooth, you can use lemonade instead.
Then you’ve got Sangria, probably one of the most famous drinks in Spain. It’s a mix of red wine, chopped fruit, the above-mentioned gaseosa, and a touch of grape-based spirit or fortified wine. It’s tasty, refreshing, and no doubt responsible for countless British tourists overdoing their poolside siesta and turning a lovely shade of lobster red.
Still feeling like we’re drinking in the cheap seats? OK, how about a Mimosa/Bucks Fizz? Take your favourite Cava/Prosecco/Champagne, pour in some orange juice, and you’ve got a wine cocktail that can happily mix it with the rich and shameless.
But there’s no need to stop there. You could also follow in the footsteps of professional drinker and part-time writer Ernest Hemingway. He was a fan of Agua de Valencia, a famous Valencian cocktail that puts a Bucks Fizz on steroids. The drink was invented by Galician painter Constante Gil, who at one time owned a Valencian bar called Cervecería Madrid, now known as Café Madrid. There are various versions of Agua de Valencia, but it typically mixes two parts orange juice, two parts cava, one part gin, and one part vodka. Mix it up, pour it over ice and enjoy. It’s not for the faint-hearted, but taken in moderation, it’s a cracking summer cocktail.
Given I was heading for Italy, it’s not surprising that my thoughts turned to their very own Spritz – a delicious mixture of Prosecco, Aperol and a splash of soda water. With its slightly bitter edge, I’d argue it’s a more sophisticated flavour than your average mimosa, and the perfect accompaniment to an evening on an Italian terrace.
And since we’re in Italy, why not go for a Rossini? A blended mix of strawberries, sugar, lemon juice and your choice of sparkling white, this delicious summer tipple is a perfect cool down when you’re lounging by the pool.
Finally, if you’re really feeling brave, you could even try a red wine milkshake. I can’t give you a personal recommendation on that one as it’s probably a step too far for me, but the people over at Delish seem to think it’s worth a try, so be my guest.
When you’re really into your wines, it can be easy to fall into the trap of looking down on anyone who considers mixing them. But in truth, there’s a long history of combining wines with all sorts of mixers to give them a whole new life. And let’s be honest, in the heat of summer, red wine is probably the last thing you want to drink outside of dinner. And even though a fresh, chilled glass of white can be thoroughly delicious, more often than not, you’re looking for something longer to quench the thirst.
So, why not pull out a bottle of something cheap and cheerful and grab your cocktail shaker – you may be in for a pleasant surprise.
Cheers!
I hope you tried a nice chilled Frappato in Sicily, a great summer chillable red wine.
I have just come back from Madeira and as well as trying some venerable Madeira fortified wine- liked the Moscatel one the best. But was rather taken with their rum based cocktail Poncha; the passion fruit one was delicious.
I was also stunned by the low cost of quality wines,one that cost £8.95 in the U.K. was on offer in the Funchal supermarket at 2 Euro.