Need a light and refreshing cocktail this 4th of July, incorporating white wine with fresh fruits and herbs of the season? This Red, White, & Blueberry Wine Spritzer checks all the boxes!
{I received samples from Black Stallion Estate Winery but this recipe, photos, and opinions are all mine!}
The dog days of summer are here, and if you are anything like me, you are looking for every possible way to beat the heat and escape the house to enjoy the summer season. I’ve traded my sweaters and yoga pants for capris and maxi dresses, salads and turkey burgers for soups and stews, and hibernating in the house with dips in the pool.
With the 4th of July just around the corner and even hotter temps on the horizon, I thought it was time to lighten up my cocktail for summer too. This Red, White, & Blueberry Wine Spritzer recipe is low in calories, contains no heavy syrups, sodas, or creams to weigh it down, with Black Stallion Estate Winery Chardonnay, seltzer water, fresh fruit, and herbs. Bonus? It’s Mediterranean Diet and Paleo-friendly! Plus, wine spritzers are super quick to mix up for Independence Day picnics, barbeques, and fireworks shows, just don’t forget to drink responsibly and social distance!
Black Stallion Estate Winery
Almost 100 years ago Gaspare Indelicato started with a single vineyard in Manteca, California. Though larger today, Black Stallion Estates still carries on Gaspare’s tradition of quality winemaking by a legacy carried on by his family. Black Stallion Estate features small-scale wines using the rich soil and temperate climate of Napa Valley. I received two of their lovely wines to sample.
The 2018 Napa Valley Chardonnay is barrel-aged in French Oak and left in the primary lees for six months, with stirrings twice a month, offering juicy-rich flavors of apple and pear with a velvety smooth lemon creme bruleé finish. I used this wine as the base of my Red, White, & Blueberry Wine Spritzer because the flavors of the fruit in the wine complimented the fresh fruit well. No additional mixers are needed (other than a touch of bubbly seltzer), allowing the bold flavors of the Heritage Napa Valley Chardonnay to shine through.
The 2017 Gaspare Estate Vineyard Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is still too new to sample but if it is anything like their other Cabernets, I am excited to try it. This Cabernet is estate grown, meaning that all grapes come from a single source, the Gaspare estate Oak Knoll vineyards. Many wines today contain grapes from other sources, so this is a testament to the dedication and quality of Black Stallion Estate wines.
Anatomy of a Wine Spritzer
First popularized in the early 1980s, wine spritzers became famous as a light summer cocktail. What started as a refreshing wine cocktail made with wine and club soda or seltzer water grew into the phenomenon known as the wine cooler, made with sugary-sweet fruit juice and sodas. Stealing the spotlight from wine spritzers, wine coolers were found at every party or get-together as an inexpensive cocktail option.
By the early 2000s, when people began to embrace a healthier lifestyle, corn syrup-based wine coolers were no longer a popular (or healthy) choice. Wine spritzers, guilty by association, were also left in the dust. The irony is that wine spritzers are a healthy option. For those of us trying to live a healthier lifestyle, particularly those following the Mediterranean or Paleo diets, wine spritzers allow us to enjoy a cocktail while maintaining a healthy way of life.
The key to a good wine spritzer is to use quality wine and vigorously effervescent seltzer water. I personally prefer to use unflavored seltzer to allow the fresh fruit, herb, and wine flavors to shine through, but you can use a flavored seltzer if you prefer. Don’t worry about diluting a fine wine like Black Stallion Estates with seltzer water, this is meant to be a light summer sipping cocktail only, not a substitute for an exquisite glass of wine. There are also many occasions during the summer to drink white (or red wine) including a chilled glass with cold shrimp salad, pesto chicken, or summer veggie grilled pizza.
Red, White, & Blueberry Wine Spritzer
To keep the red, white (wine) and blue theme, use raspberries, and blueberries. You can also use fresh sliced peaches, nectarines, blackberries, or watermelon in the spritzer. The rosemary adds a light botanical flavor to the cocktail but you can leave it out if you prefer.
(Per Glass)
- 1 c. Fresh Blueberries
- 1 c. Fresh Raspberries
- 2-3 Sprigs of Fresh Rosemary
- 1 oz. Seltzer or Sparkling Water (Unflavored is preferred)
- 6 oz. Black Stallion Chardonnay
Wash and de-stem the berries, place in an 8-ounce glass. Add the seltzer water, then top with the Chardonnay. If you are going to be outdoors, freeze the berries in a plastic baggie for a few hours before placing in the glass as they will keep the spritzer colder longer.
Looking for another summer cocktail?
