Summer Drinks( In Arizona Year around)

  1. Tarragon bubble Fling..... 2tbsp. tarragon-flavored simple syrup (recipe below) .... about 4 oz. chilled blanc de blanc sparkling wine ....Tarragon sprig....Pour simple syrup into a chilled Champagne flute, fill flute with sparkling wine and garnish with tarragon sprig.
  2. White Peach Sangria..... Makes about 8 cups; (10-12 drinks) ... TIME about 15 minutes, plus about 2 hours to chill.....1 bottle (750 ml.) Riesling or other aromatic white wine....2 cups thin wedges firm-ripe white peaches (about 3/4 lb.) ...1/2 cup peach schnapps...1 cup loosely packed mint srigs..... 1 bottle (750 ml.) chilled brut-style sparking wine...... PREPARATION..... In a larger pitcher or small bowl, combine Riesling, peaches, peach schnapps, and mint sprigs..... cover and chill until cold, at least 2 hours.....Pour in sparkling wine, stir gently, and serve immediately in chilled white wine glasses.
  3. Mexican Berry Freeze..... Makes about 3 cups; 3 drinks... TIME about 5 minutes.....1 cup frozen raspberries...1cup frozen blackberries...1 cup chilled dry Zinfandel.....1/3 cup silver tequila (white)...1/4 cup simple syrup (recipe below) ....1 tbsp. fresh line juice..... fresh raspberries, for garnish.... PREPARATION..... Put all ingredients(except garnish) in a blender and whirl until very smooth, Pour mixture into 3 chilled glasses and garnish with fresh berries skewered on tooth picks. ( you can strain the seeds in strainer)
  4. Red,White, and Sparkling..... Makes 1 drink..TIME about 3 minutes...3oz. (6tbsp.) chilled Pinot Grigio or Pinot Gris....1 tbsp. simple syrup...1 tbsp .fresh lemon juice... ICE.... 2 tbsp. Clear Creek cassis liqueur or Chambord ...... about 2 tbsp. blanc de noirs sparkling wine... PREPARATION...Pour Pinot Grigio, simple syrup, and lemon juice into a cocktail shaker filled with ice...... shake just until chilled.... about 5 seconds....then pour into a chilled martini glass ..... Carefully pour liqueur down 1 side of the glass and let it settle at the bottom.... Gently pour the sparking wine on top and serve immediately.

SIMPLE SYRUP: In a 2 qt. glass measuring cup, combine 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar. Microwave on high, stirring once, until sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes ....Chill until cold, about 1 hour. Makes about 1 1/4 cups ....variations: when sugar is dissolved stir in 1/2 cup lightly packed fresh herbs like basil or tarragon, then chill until cold....When cold, strain into another glass measuring cup; discard herbs.