More than your average spritzer
	Willy Nilly, Vörösboros kóla, Jote, Bambus, Kalimotxo, Houba, Catemba, Calimocho—every country, it seems, has a name for the cocktail we probably all drank at some point in our lives: red wine and coke. Ah, the days when we drank anything, fearlessly experimenting, mixing this with that, picturing ourselves as the next Tom Cruise in Cocktail. ...

One of the cocktails I created back in college was a rosé mixed with iced tea—I named it the “szabi” after myself and secretly hoped it would catch on and I would hear my name echo in bars from Pécs to Paris. My humble aspirations were eventually forgotten, but not too long ago, I recalled this wonderful little cocktail and decided to try it out on a few my friends. A few cubes of ice, half rosé, half lemon iced tea and voilá! A nice, refreshing szabi. Everyone loved it! This made me think what other wonderful cocktails are out there just waiting to be discovered. Here are some of the more popular from around the world, but if you have any other great recipe ideas for summer wine cocktails, write us and let us know!

Spröcs: Remember this from your clubbing days? It’s a mix of Sprite (or 7 up) with white wine. In China, it’s called a 7-Jiu!

Mimosa: A classic. Champagne and orange juice. In England it is known as Buck Fizz. Depending on how much alcohol you like in your drink, the preferred ratio is one-to-three or half and half.

Tinto de Verano or “Red wine of Summer”: A popular drink in Spain similar to Sangria. It is made up of one part red wine, one part La Casera that can be substituted with a mixture of Sprite and seltzer water.

Bellini: An Italian favorite, this cocktail is made from puréed white peaches and Prosecco or champagne. Named after the Italian artist Giovanni Bellini for its color, this cocktail was a favorite of Hemingway and Orson Wells.

Kir: This cocktail was popular in the French café scene in the mid-19th century. In a white wine glass, pour one shot crème de cassis (black current liquor) and top it off with white wine. It is usually served as an aperitif.

Sangria: The recipe variations for this classic are endless. Experiment with all types of fruit and red wine and see what you like best. Great for any summer party.

Wine cooler: Another cocktail with infinite possibilities. Get creative! Choose a dry white or red wine and a fruit juice. Better yet, be wild and choose a bunch of fruit juices. Pour equal part wine and equal part fruit juice(s) into a glass. You can also add 7-up or soda if you prefer a little bubbly. Serve over ice or crushed ice. Garnish with fruit or lemon slices.