Valentine’s Day Means Red and Bubbles

February 8, 2018 – If bubbly is on your list as the way to make this Valentine’s Day special, then go with one that’s red and very delicious.  We’re referring to Rosa Regale an Italian sparkling wine from one of Banfi Vintner’s estates in the southern Piedmont region.   Made from 100 percent Brachetto grape, Rosa Regale is universally loved by wine writers, a tough crowd if ever there was one.

It’s lovely cranberry color is perfect for Valentine’s Day.  Brachetto produces a wine that is soft, aromatic, and slightly sweet with raspberry and rose petal on the nose and on the palate.  With just enough crisp acidity for balance, Rosa Regale is frequently described as vivacious and luscious.  Serve it chilled in a Champagne flute or combine it with spirits for a wonderful cocktail experience.  We’ve got you covered with the three recipes below from the simplest, pretty Rosatini to Something Sweet(heart) and Rosa is Red that will show off your mixing skills.  Rosa Regale is available nationally retailing for around $17 to $20.  Many more interesting recipes are available and we know you’re going to want to bookmark the link for summer entertaining.  (It is coming, honest.)

For diehard vodka fans, and we know you are out there, we have Hibiscus Crush, a punch that will solve your bartending challenge for the evening, as well as a simple martini, Secret Admirer that covers you and your significant other lickety-split, both courtesy of Smirnoff. 

Recipes

Rosatini

2 oz vodka
5 oz Rosa Regale

Lemon rind

Method:  Combine vodka and Rosa Regale in a martini glass.  One quick stir, add
lemon rind and drink up. 


Something Sweet(heart)

2 oz Rosa Regale
½ oz tequila
1 tsp. unsweetened chocolate powder
½ oz maple syrup
2 oz almond milk
Marshmallow (optional garnish)
Red sugar

Method: In a cocktail shaker combine tequila, unsweetened chocolate powder, maple syrup and almond milk. Add ice and quickly shake. Pour contents into a martini glass and add Rosa Regale. Add some red sugar to the martini glass rim to garnish and float a marshmallow on top if desired.

Rosa is Red

5 oz Rosa Regale
1 oz London Dry Gin
3/4  oz lemon juice
3/4  oz lavender simple syrup*
1/2  oz Blood Orange juice
1 strawberry, sliced
Orange peel, to garnish 

Combine Gin, lemon, blood orange and lavender simple syrup into shaking tin and fill half way with ice. Shake for 3 seconds and strain into a wine glass with ice and top with sparkling rose. Drop strawberries into glass and garnish with orange peel. 

Lavender Simple Syrup: bring one cup water to a boil with 1 tablespoon lavender sprigs. Add 1 cup of sugar and stir till dissolved. Take off heat and let cool. Strain out lavender and refrigerate up to one week. 

Hibiscus Crush

Courtesy of Sylvia Fountaine of Feasting at Home

16 oz Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka (2 cups) 
1/2 cup dried hibiscus flowers
1 cup water 
1/2 cup sugar
1 oz triple sec
32 oz lemon lime soda 
1 lemon sliced 
1 lime sliced
1 orange- sliced
4 cups crushed ice

Place hibiscus, water and sugar in a small pot to simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes.  Once sugar is dissolved, set aside to cool. Strain. Place vodka, triple sec, soda and sliced citrus in a punch bowl or beverage container. Add hibiscus infusion. Stir. Right before quests arrive add 4 cups crushed ice. 

Secret Admirer

Courtesy of Sylvia Fountaine of Feasting at Home

4 oz Smirnoff Raspberry
1.5 oz Chartreuse
6 fresh raspberries

Place all ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain into two vintage martini glasses. Garnish with fresh raspberries. You could sugar the rim for extra sweetness.