“Remember there are five reasons for drinking: the arrival of a friend, one’s present or future thirst, the excellence of the wine, or any other reason” ~ Latin Proverb
I drank a lot of wine while living in Spain. Some would say too much. But it was all part of the experience, I told myself between generous sips of vino tinto. I was learning about language and culture and how to open $3 bottles of Rioja without a corkscrew (house keys work fine, by the way). It seemed like the Spaniards were always drinking too, so the more I indulged the less guilty I felt.
Then something strange happened. As I became more accustomed with life in Andalusia (southern Spain), I started paying more attention to what the locals were actually drinking. Hollywood films and cultural stereotypes had given me a certain mental image of Spain, and I’d been predisposed to assume that everyone drank world-class red wine all the time. But this wasn’t the case. Most people in Sevilla were drinking beer – not wine – thanks to the city’s historic ties with cerveza giant Cruzcampo. And those that weren’t drinking beer were sipping a mysterious pink beverage, too light to be vino tinto and too fizzy to be sangria. I asked the bartender in broken Spanish for “one of those things,” and was pleasantly surprised with its light, almost soda-like flavor.
I later discovered it was called tinto de verano (red summer), and it became my go-to bar drink for the next 5 months. I wouldn’t be caught dead drinking one in the States – we would call it a wine spritzer – but when you’re allergic to beer and ballin’ on a budget, the tinto de verano reigns supreme. It’s light and refreshing (as the name suggests) and perfect for those summer afternoons on the patio – or terraza, depending on location. Best of all, it’s one of the simplest drinks you’ll ever make. So drop your agenda and pick up some red wine, some lemons, and something fizzy. You won’t regret it.
Ingredients:
1 bottle red wine
1 bottle lemon-flavored sparkling water (or low-sugar soda)
lemon wedges
Directions: Mix equal parts wine and sparkling water. Garnish with lemon. Yep, that’s it.
