Sweeten Up Your Summer with A Sparkling Strawberry Cocktail‏

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

The summer is coming to an end, but there’s still time to enjoy these last few hot days with a cool, refreshing summer cocktail.

Cupcake Vineyards is happy to help you kick back and relax as the end of summer arrives. The names alone of their wine like Red Velvet and Angel Food make my mouth water!

Check out some of my favorites: 

2014 Cupcake Vineyards Moscato d'Asti

Any occasion can be worthy of a toast with our Moscato D’Asti. Vibrant and expressive with dominant floral notes and hints of bright fruit flavors including peach, tropical fruits and lychee.

2012 Cupcake Vineyards Red Velvet

A deliciously rich blend of Zinfandel, Merlot, and Petite Sirah, our Red Velvet blend delivers over-the-top aromas of chocolate, deep dark blackberries and luscious red fruits that follow through to the palate, finishing with a hint of coconut and creamy mocha.

Cupcake Prosecco

Raise a glass of this refreshing Prosecco that sparkles with fine effervescence. Aromas of white peach, grapefruit and honeydew melon lead to flavors of creamy ripe lemon, refined citrus and a toasted brioche finish. They craft this wine using only the best Glera grapes – the official grape of Prosecco – from their vineyards in Italy. Their process centers on the charmat method, in which the wine undergoes a secondary fermentation in stainless steel tanks to produce its characteristic clean finish.

Try this Sparkling Summer Strawberry Cocktail made with Cupcake Prosecco, strawberries and orange juice, to toast away those last summer nights.

For this recipe, you’ll need:

· 1 bottle of Cupcake Prosecco

· 2 cups of strawberries, hulled

· 2 tbsp. water

· ¼ cup of orange juice

· Mint sprigs for garnish (optional)

It’s simple: Puree strawberries and water in blender until smooth. In a pitcher, combine the strawberry puree with orange juice and Cupcake Prosecco. Garnish with orange slices and mint. Finally, sit back, relax and enjoy the last days of summer!

Buy It:

You can purchase Cupcake Wines from The Wine Group website.

* Thank you to Cupcake Winery for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Cocktail Recipes for Spring

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

With the Spring officially here, everyone is getting thirsty for a refreshing drink at the end of the day, hosting cookouts, and looking to serve fun and refreshing drinks to kick back and relax.

Below you will find a variety of cocktails made with Crown Royal Regal Apple and the new Captain Morgan Grapefruit Rum. If some of you or your guests aren’t spirits drinkers, there is also a wine spritzer recipe with the recently launched Chateau La Paws Chardonnay, an offering for wine lovers that gives back to rescue dogs.

Each cocktail is perfect for favorite spring activities, watching a baseball game with friends or enjoying patio drinks.

Golden Delicious

• 1.5 oz. Crown Royal Regal Apple
• 1 oz. Pineapple Juice
• 1 Dash angostura bitters

Add ingredients to high ball. Top with ginger ale and lemon garnish.

Palomaloha

• 1.5 oz. Captain Morgan Grapefruit Rum
• Juice of ½ lime
• Grapefruit soda to top

Fill tall glass with ice. Pour in Captain Morgan® Grapefruit Rum, lime juice and grapefruit soda. Garnish with grapefruit wedge.

Spritz Tzu

• 3 oz. Chateau La Paws Chardonnay
• 1 oz. Elderflower Liqueur
• 2 oz. Club Soda
• Lemon Twist

Fill rocks glass with ice. Pour in Chateau La Paws Chardonnay, elderflower liqueur and club soda. Garnish with lemon twist.

*Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Enchanting Wine Cocktails for the Holidays‏

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Whether you celebrate the holiday season entertaining family or cozying up by the fire, Once Upon a Vine has enchanting winter cocktail recipes for every occasion.

Dance through the New Year in a swirl of raspberry and cranberry notes with a flute of Enchanted Berry Bubbly. Walk in a winter wonderland with a Fairest Apple Cider to warm your hands or spice up your holiday dinners with a Mulled Wine Sangria.

More than fantastic cocktails, all varietals from Once Upon a Vine make for charming holiday gifts for your more whimsical wine connoisseurs.

Check out the tasty recipes below:

Enchanted Berry Bubbly 

(5 Servings)

• 1 750Bottle Once Upon A Vine, Enchanted Woods Bubbly
• 1 12 oz Pack Whole Cranberries
• 1 24.5 oz Bottle Raspberry Flavor Syrup

Freeze cranberries overnight. Add a dash of raspberry syrup to each glass of sparkling wine and garnish with three frozen cranberries.

Mulled Wine Sangria 

(5 Servings)

• 1 750ml Bottle Once Upon A Vine, Red Blend
• ¼ Cup Brandy
• ¼ Cup Honey
• 2 Sticks Cinnamon
• 2 Large Oranges (Thick Rind)
• 1 tsp. Ginger
• 1 tsp. Ground Cloves
• OPTIONAL: 20 Whole Cloves

Mix wine, brandy, honey, cinnamon sticks, ginger and ground cloves in large non-aluminum pot. Cut one orange into slices and add to mixture. Bring to a boil and immediately turn down to simmer for 1 hour.

If desired, take approximately 20 whole cloves and carefully remove balls from ends. Press remaining clove (pointed end first) into whole orange. To avoid breaking the star-shaped tops press in with thumbnail between the prongs. When finished, cut the orange in half and add to mixture.

Fairest Apple Cider 

(5 Servings)

• 1 750 Bottle Once Upon A Vine, Chardonnay
• 1 50.7oz Bottle Apple Cider
• ½ Cup Italian Liqueur
• 1 tsp. Cinnamon
• 1 Cup Heavy Whipping
• 1 Tbsp. Vanilla Flavor

Mix wine, cider, liqueur, and cinnamon in large non-aluminum pot. Turn on low heat and warm to desired drinking level. Put whisk and metal bowl in freezer for at least 15 minutes. When ready to serve, mix heavy whipping and vanilla in cold metal bowl using whisk. Whisk until mixture becomes fluffy. Top drinks with mixture.

Once Upon a Vine can be found in retail locations across the United States and online at http://www.thewinebar.com/once-upon-a-vine

* Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*