Spritzer, locally known as bevanda or gemišt, although mixed with water, soda or mineral water, are wine cocktails by the virtue of adding something to wine. Do I have to mention mulled black or white wine that warms the heart and the soul during winter? Then there are mimosas with a base of champagne, as well as sangria …
A Summer Pleasure for the Palate
I love the very beautiful wine roads of Northwestern Istria very much. They offer great white and black wines, among which there are also some wonderfully refreshing sparkling wines, whose bubbles eagerly swish in their bottles, jumping for he change to mix with fruit and fruit juices in glasses. So, I suggest a summer refreshment the likes of which you’ve dreamed of for starters. Cocktails often go hand in hand with the so-called fairer sex, but these drinks are loved by all and need to be consumed by all too. After all, long live the alcoholic emancipation: the moment in which only the pleasure of the palate is what is important to us. To cut to the cocktail…
Take a blender and put in 60 ml of elder cordial and half a juicy, sweet melon that you’ve previously peeled and diced. Blend until smooth, add a cup of ice and blend again until smooth and liquid. Pour 180 ml of Istrian rosé sparkling Terrano into a glass and add the prepared juice to it. If you don’t have the rosé, the cocktail can also be made splendid by the addition of some semi-sweet Moscato from Momjan.
Sunshine in a Glass
Another recipe we recommend might be dubbed white sangria, but I like to call it “sunshine in a glass” because that’s exactly what it looks like. You’ll need four ripe peaches, half a litre of Malvasia with a fruity flavor, half a litre of lemonade, some basil and some ice. Cut the peaches into pieces. Put two in the blender, leave the other two on the side. Blend the peaches and add the wine. Blend again. If you want, you can use a colander or a piece of muslin while pouring the mixture into a glass jug. Add fresh, sweet lemonade you’ve made with sparkling water. Stir well and serve in glasses with ice, the remaining peaches and basil leaves.
