Ger-Nis INTERNATIONAL, LLC

Summer Herb Spritzers

A spritzer is a cool drink that is served with a mixture of fizzy or bubbled liquid along with flat liquid. We know them best as wine spritzers which are an incredibly lovely way to refresh yourself in the summer without adding tons of alcohol. Herbs are a delightful way to add flavor and zing to what might otherwise be boring drinks. There are so many great light wines on the market and many are perfect for mixing into spritzers. When our pallets are more used to deep, rich wines, some of the lighter wines are perfect for these summer spritzer recipes. Ask your local wine shop for more suggestions as to which wines to use. These thirst quenching herbal summer spritzers are sure to make you come back for more and more!

Summer Fruit & Herb Red Wine Sangria
½ cup pitted and halved cherries
½ cup raspberries
½ cup chopped peaches
½ cup chopped apricots
½ cup chopped strawberries
½ cup blueberries
juice and zest of 1 orange and 1 lemon
2 bottles of red wine
1 bottle sparkling water
½ cup fresh thyme simple syrup (1/4 cup chopped thyme, ¼ cup sugar ¼ cup water)

To make the thyme simple syrup place the thyme, water and sugar in a saucepan and boil until all the sugar dissolves. Take off heat and set aside for 10 minutes. Strain and cool.

Mix all ingredients in a large pitcher and let stand for 2 hours. Serve room temperature.

Basil Lemonade Pinot Gris Spritzer
1 cup chopped basil
1 cup sparkling lemonade, or juice and zest of 2 lemons & 1 cup sparkling water
¼ cup sugar
pinch of salt
1 bottle of pinot gris
lemons for garnish

Mix the basil, pinch of salt, sugar and lemonade in a blender or food processor (or use a hand held processor) and blend until all the basil is in very fine particles and mixed well. Mix the basil mixture with the wine in a pitcher and refrigerate for about 30 minutes or until cool or cold. Garnish with lemons.

Black Currant Tea & Tarragon Rose Spritzer
3 black currant tea bags
1 pint of water
¼ cup chopped tarragon
¼ cup sugar
1 bottle of rose sparkling wine

Boil pint of water and pour over tarragon, sugar and tea bags. Let steep for about 10 minutes, strain and refrigerate until cool. Mix with rose wine and serve very cold.

Strawberry Ginger Basil Cava Spritzer
½ cup strawberries with tops removed
2 T honey
1 T chopped ginger
¼ cup chopped basil
juice and zest of 2 limes
1 bottle of cava

With a handheld mixer, mix the strawberries, honey, ginger zest, juice and basil until well blended. Pour a bit of the mixture at the bottom of a champagne glass and fill with the cava. Garnish with a strawberry.

Raspberry Mint Champagne Spritzer
½ cup raspberries
¼ cup chopped mint
¼ cup orange juice
1 bottle champagne

Mash a few raspberries and mix with the mint and the orange juice. Place a spoon full of the mixture in a champagne glass and fill with champagne. Add a few whole raspberries to each glass.

Lemon Thyme Chardonnay Spritzer
1 cup lemon thyme simple syrup
½ cup lemon thyme
½ cup sugar
½ cup lemon juice and zest of 1 lemon
2 bottles chardonnay
½ cup sparkling water

To make the lemon thyme simple syrup place the lemon thyme, lemon juice and zest and sugar in a saucepan, and boil until all the sugar dissolves. Take off heat and set aside for 10 minutes, strain and cool. Mix together with the chardonnay and sparkling water and refrigerate until cold. Garnish with a thyme leaf and a lemon wedge.

Melon & Herb White Sangria
1 cup balled honeydew melon
1 cup balled cantaloupe cubed
½ cup balled galia melon
1/2 cup basil chopped
½ cup mint chopped
¼ cup honey
juice and zest of one lemon, lime and orange
2 bottles cava or an effervescent white wine

Muddle basil, mint, honey, zest and juice and combine with wine and melons. Let stand in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes until cold before serving.