It’s summer. It’s hot as balls. You’re going to a picnic, a barbecue, or some other social gathering, and you want to bring something boozy that serves a crowd. You’ve probably heard of Sangria, right? Red wine and brandy-soaked fruit? Not exactly something you can pitch together last minute. But, let me introduce you to Sangria’s lazy sibling: tinto de verano!
Tinto de Verano, which translates to “summer red wine,” is a simple Spanish cocktail that is the perfect summer drink. Okay, okay, technically it’s a wine cocktail….or maybe it’s a type of wine spritzer? Either way, it’s so good, and most people can’t tell the difference between Tinto de Verano and Sangria. Both are light, citrusy, and just slightly sweet in the most refreshing way.
This is a summer wine cocktail that will definitely impress your friends, family, coworkers, or anyone else, for that matter.
Jump to RecipeWhat’s the Difference Between Tinto de Verano vs Sangria?
When I was in Spain (like, over a decade ago, lol), my sister introduced me to Tinto de Verano, which she called “the poor man’s Sangria” because it was significantly cheaper than “real” sangria, but had a very similar flavor. Essentially, the biggest difference between these two Spanish wine drinks is that traditional Sangria is a lot more complicated to make (which is why it’s more expensive):
- Sangria uses more ingredients.
- Sangria uses more booze.
- Sangria takes more time to make.
Tinto de Verano only has 3-4 ingredients, and as long as they are cold, you can serve right away (hell, if they aren’t cold, you can still serve right away over ice). Red wine is the only alcohol needed, and there is no overnight soaking involved. This is particularly great for serving at a party or event, as it means you can easily make more if you run out. It’s also great if planning ahead isn’t always your strong suit 🙃 (hi, it’s me, I’m the probably, it’s me).
What You Need to Make Tinto de Verano
The three ingredients you need for this siple Tinto de Verano recipe are red wine, lemon soda (or sparkling lemonade), and sliced citrus fruit like lemon and orange. You want to use a young, fruity Spanish red wine like Tempranillo (NOT a sweet red) for the base, and I like to go middle-of-the-road in terms of quality (something in the $6-$14 range). Sometimes I’ve mixed one nicer bottle with one cheaper bottle. No one can tell the difference!
In Spain, the soda part was always lemon Fanta, which I’ve never found in the States. You could use a lemon lime soda (even Sprite, if that’s all you got), but I like this organic Lemon Italian Soda from Whole Foods. Another option could be making your own lemon soda using soda water, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Buuuut, that makes this recipe slightly more complicated, and I’m all about easy. Honestly, the key to this ingredient is finding something that is bubbly, has a good citrus flavor, and is a little bit sweet.
Lastly, sliced lemons and oranges are the most traditional fruit for this wine cocktail, but you could also add in grapefruit or limes. The sliced fruit are all you really need for a garnish, but if you’d like to add a little something extra, fresh herbs like mint, rosemary, or thyme work great.
Mix everything in a pitcher or drink dispenser and serve over ice cubes.
Recipe for Tinto de Verano
Equipment
- 1 drink dispenser or pitcher
Ingredients
- 750 ml young, fruity red wine like Tempranillo (1 regular bottle)
- 750 ml sparkling lemonade (I used Whol Foods' Organic Tangy Lemon Italian Soda)
- 1 whole lemon (sliced)
- 1 whole orange (sliced)
Instructions
- Add sliced fruit to your drink dispenser or pitcher and pour red wine over top. Carefully pour in the sparkling lemonade and gently stir to mix without disrupting the carbonation.
- Pour over ice into any glass (a goblet or low ball glass work fine) and garnish with slice (or slices) of fruit.
Notes
