Party In a Glass

• Posted on 21 July 2021
• Posted in California, Glera, Italy, zinfandel
• 0

Since we are in the middle of what is known as the dog days of summer, let’s open up—or even conjure up—some delightful, refreshing, and chilled party wines and cocktails to get us through the heat. Invite friends and family over, throw the inflatable swan into the pool, break out the citronella tiki torches, and get the little drink umbrellas and flamingo stirrers ready, because it’s party time!

Our first suggested party in a glass involves finding your margarita glasses or cocktail tumblers and putting them in the freezer to get frosty. Take your bottles of La Catrina Classic Margarita Wine Cocktail Jalisco Mexico NV and put them in the freezer too, as you’ll want them super-chilled. When you are ready to serve, pour the extra-chilled margarita wine cocktail into your glass and enjoy. Wait! You mean do not need to add liquor to this? Yes, that is right. La Catrina is not a mix and is a ready-to-drink, poured-from-the-bottle cocktail. Garnish with a lime wedge. For frozen margarita, pour in the blender with a cup or two of ice and whirl it up. Whether you choose to salt your rim or not, enjoy your no-fuss, no-muss margarita.

Speaking of margaritas, our friends at La Catrina also have a bottled strawberry margarita La Catrina Strawberry Margarita Bridesmaids Jalisco Mexico NV. Follow the same frosty advice above, or grab a bag of frozen strawberries at the market and throw them in the blender with this bottled gem, and enjoy a super berrylicious frozen drink to help cool you down.

Both of the bottled margarita cocktails can be served chilled as is, or served over ice, depending on your preferences. A bowl of tortilla chips with guacamole and salsa would make some enjoyable accompaniments. 

Every mention of party in a glass has to include a sparkling wine. Sparkling wines are great on their own, but also make great cocktails. Mimosa, anyone? Or how about a Bellini? This week, City Vino is featuring the illi Prosecco Extra Dry DOC Treviso Veneto Italy. Mimosas and bellinis do not have to be made from champagne. Prosecco makes a great substitute for champagne in cocktails, and can be much more affordable. Cocktails like Cucumber Lime Basil Spritzer, or a Cranberry Pomegranate Cocktail, sound super-refreshing for these dog days. A classic French 75, which pairs a splash of gin, lemon juice, super and bubbly would be fabulous with Prosecco. The Kir Royale, which pairs ½ ounce of crème de cassis or Chambord with sparkling, is another great sparkling favorite. For other cocktail ideas, check out Prosecco Cocktails.

While the final party in a glass is really a Rage Party, pun intended from our owner Rita. Our Rage Party wine is the 2017 Michael David Winery Rage Zinfandel, from Dry Creek Valley in California. The vines that make this lovely Zinfandel were planted in the 1960s on the south edge of Dry Creek on a hillside slope in rocky red soils. This Zinfandel has a peppery-edge worthy of the Rage name. Aromas on this wine may include ripe strawberries, red licorice, dark chocolate, and caramel. On the palate, you may taste ripe raspberries, cranberries, and cherries with hints of pepper, spice and hazelnut notes. There are soft tannins in this medium bodied red.

This weekend, come get your party in a glass from City Vino. See you then!