Description
This authentic tinto de verano recipe is the real Spanish version, made with equal parts red wine and lemon soda over plenty of ice. It is the drink locals order all summer long, it comes together in five minutes, and it is the easiest thing you can hand a crowd on a hot afternoon.
Ingredients
- 1 (750 ml) bottle young, fruity red wine, chilled (Tempranillo or Garnacha are ideal)
- 2 (12 oz) cans lemon-lime soda, chilled (Sprite, 7UP, or La Casera Limón)
- 1 orange, thinly sliced
- 2 lemons, thinly sliced
- Plenty of ice
- Orange rind or extra orange slices, for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a large pitcher or jar with ice.
- Pour the entire bottle of red wine over the ice. Add the sliced orange and lemons, pressing them gently down into the wine. Top with the lemon-lime soda and stir once, gently, to combine. Do not over-stir or you will lose the carbonation.
- Fill tall glasses with fresh ice and pour the tinto de verano over the top. Garnish with an orange rind or slice and serve immediately.
To make a single serving:
- Fill a tall glass to the top with ice.
- Pour in 4 ounces of chilled red wine.
- Top with 4 ounces of chilled lemon-lime soda and stir once, gently.
- Garnish with an orange slice and a lemon slice. Serve immediately.
Notes
For a less sweet version, use one can of soda and top with plain sparkling water.
Use an inexpensive bottle of wine. It should taste good on its own, but this is not the place to use your nicest bottle of red.
Skip anything oaky or high in tannin, which turns slightly bitter against the soda.
For a crowd, set out the chilled wine, soda, ice, and citrus and let everyone build their own. That is how it is actually done in Spain.
Best made and served immediately. The soda goes flat within about two hours.