Hey! Summer! Nice to see you! You seem reluctant, though. You’re not coming through San Francisco in full force the way you usually do in September. Come on in! Make yourself at home. Stay awhile before the rains and gray and fog settle in for the winter. Please?
It was *hot* in a chilled-bone-warming way briefly this weekend and refreshments were in much demand. We hadn’t had tinto de verano since last summer, so I mixed a couple up for my dashing husband and myself (Ernest had just the sparkling lemonade) while the three of us played a rousing game of Monopolgy Junior.
What is tinto de verano, you ask? Well, it’s what many (most?) people think sangria is. People seem to think that sangria is light little mixture of wine and fruit juice/pieces of fruit. Which it sort of is except for the fact that – traditionally anyway – sangria is made with wine and fruit and booze. In short, sangria is more alcoholic than wine, which surprises a lot of people. Tinto de verano (summer wine!), on the other hand, is red wine and lemon soda. In Spain it is sometimes made with 7-Up or Sprite (like a spritzer! hello 1976!), but more often with the same stuff I like to use: sparkling lemonade. I do about half red wine and half sparkling lemonade (both room temperature) over a glass chock full of ice. That way it gets diluted a bit because – and take this as the warning it is – this stuff goes down like Kool-Aid.
cheryl | 01-Sep-09 at 4:50 pm | Permalink
Hellllo, pretty liquid refreshment.
I had sangria at a Spanish restaurant in Menlo Park a few years ago and was really surprised when the waiter whispered that the secret ingredient was orange soda. Reading about the soda in your tinto de verano makes this sound much less weird.
Hey, is there a button on your site where I, and your other loyal fans, can subscribe to your RSS feed in a reader?
Kendra S | 02-Sep-09 at 7:59 am | Permalink
When I lived in Spain we always had this with orange Fanta soda and box red wine (hello 1986!). Unfortunately I can’t stomach American corn syrup Fanta (in Europe back then it was made with cane sugar), so you’ve just given me a fantastic idea. I’m telling everyone about your cocktail finesse…
Molly Watson | 02-Sep-09 at 9:45 am | Permalink
Cheryl – thanks for the reminder (and implicit compliment)! You know I thought I’d added that link ages ago, but you’re right – it wasn’t there. It is now.
Kendra – I do like myself a little drink every now and again….
huebscher | 09-Sep-09 at 2:01 pm | Permalink
a friend who lived in spain for a term shared this recipe…it’s become my go-to entertaining libation. so easy, and so delicious in hot weather!
kendra s: have you tried an “ethnic” market? …some carry coke (et al) from mexico, where cane sugar is still standard.
administration jobs | 11-Sep-09 at 4:53 am | Permalink
It looks very refreshing. This is great! Perfect for hot summer days.