As the temperature soars, you may be looking for some refreshing summer drinks. Here to help is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s largest wine review site at nataliemaclean.com.
Hi Natalie!
Hi Melissa, great to be back with you! Let’s start with the first wine here.
Great! What do you have?
Folonari Prosecco
Veneto, Italy
We’re starting with Folonari Prosecco, a crisp, lightly sparkling Italian white with aromas of green apple, white peach, and a touch of lemon sunshine. This is like summer in a glass, pairing beautifully with a cheese plate or fresh fruit platters.
Folonari is one of Italy’s oldest and most respected wine producers, founded in 1825 in the Veneto region. It played a key role in popularizing prosecco internationally.
Now let’s mix it up with a cocktail, the Paloma Mimosa.
This cocktail combines the fizz of a Mimosa with the citrusy zing of a Paloma.
Ingredients:
- 3 oz Stirrings Paloma Cocktail Mix, a ready-to-serve Canadian cocktail mixer so there’s no need for multiple ingredients: no muddle, no trouble
- 4-5 oz sparkling wine
- Garnish: lemon slice
Stirrings Paloma Cocktail Mix
United States
Directions:
- In a champagne flute, add Paloma mix.
- Top off with prosecco.
Paloma Mimosa Mocktail
Now let’s make it into a mocktail by swapping the prosecco with St. Regis Alcohol-Free Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc. It’s still bubbly and sensational!
St. Regis Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc
Germany
Of course, you can also enjoy the alcohol-free St. Regis bubbly on its own, especially since in comes in a summer-friendly format of the can, ideal for the deck, dock or camping.
What’s next in your summer sipping lineup?
Leyda Sauvignon Blanc
Leyda Valley, Chile
I have the Leyda Sauvignon Blanc from Chile. This is like someone bottled a perfect day at the beach—bursting with lime zest, passion fruit, and a salty sea breeze finish. It’s a dream with ceviche, grilled shrimp tacos, or anything citrusy and fresh.
Leyda is in the coastal cradle of Sauvignon Blanc in Chile, with vineyards just 12 km from the Pacific Ocean.
The cool Humboldt Current gives the wine a zippy acidity and intense aromatics. Leyda has helped redefine Chilean white wines as vibrant and world-class.
It’s so coastal, it practically comes with its own seashell and a tiny umbrella.
The Leyda Valley was designated a D.O. (Denomination of Origin) in 2002, making it one of the country’s youngest but most exciting wine regions.
Next let’s make a zesty cocktail:
Mint Margarita Blanca
This drink is what happens when a Margarita decides to get a European passport and study abroad.
Ingredients:
- 3 oz white wine
- 2 oz Stirrings Margarita Cocktail Mix, again to simplify your life and the ingredients. It’s made from real juice with no artificial preservatives
- Rim: coarse sea salt
- Garnish: fresh mint
Stirrings Margarita Cocktail Mix
United States
Method:
- Rim a short glass with lime and dip into salt.
- Add ice, then the wine, mix, and lime juice.
- Stir gently and garnish with mint.
It’s crisp, dry, and tangy like a Margarita that got a minty upgrade. Pair it with corn and poblano quesadillas, mango salsa grilled chicken or an extra-large bag of tortilla chips—we’re not judging anyone’s life choices!
Mocktail Version
Let’s turn it into a beautiful mocktail using the St. Regis Alcohol-Free Sparkling Rosé instead of the wine for a sunset-pink, bubbly treat.
St. Regis Sparkling Rosé
Germany
Let’s finish with something bold and unexpected.
Lamole di Lamole Chianti Classico
Tuscany, Italy
Lamole di Lamole Chianti Classico is a Tuscan treasure with notes of black cherry, dried herbs, and earthy richness. Pair it with grilled lamb, fennel salami, or a hearty eggplant lasagna.
This winery sits at one of the highest elevations in Chianti Classico—about 550 metres above sea level—where the altitude creates cool nights and intense aromatics in the wine. The vineyards date back to Roman times, and the stone terraces were rebuilt by hand to preserve historical farming methods.
“Lamole” refers to the ancient Etruscan word for “blade,” describing the shape of the hills where the vineyards are cut into the landscape. Their wines are often described as ‘Chianti with lift,’ thanks to the rare Galestro and Alberese soils that bring elegance and minerality.
Cola Spritz
Ingredients:
- 2 oz red wine
- 3 oz The Great Gentleman Spicy Cola, a new, bold ginger beer mixer from Montreal that delivers a true spicy kick to the drink
- Orange peel (expressed)
- Ice
The Great Gentleman Spicy Cola
Canada
Method:
- Fill a rocks glass with ice.
- Add wine and Spicy Cola.
- Stir lightly.
- Garnish with orange peel.
This is savoury, spicy and fizzy like an aperitivo walked into a hip Montreal bar.
Pair it with spicy sausage pizza or grilled eggplant skewers.
Mocktail Version
For the mocktail version, let’s use the Great Gentleman Spicy Cola on its own with fresh orange juice for a bold, booze-free aperitif.
Thank you for these wonderful summer drinks suggestions! Where can we find you online?
On Instagram , you can find me posting wine and spirit reviews and tips at:
Posted with permission of CTV News.
