Tinto de verano

Tinto de verano

Cocktail
Type	Wine cocktail
Base spirit	Wine
Served	On the rocks: poured over ice
Standard garnish	lemon slice
Commonly used ingredients	One part red wine One part soft drink
Preparation	Mix and serve well chilled.

Tinto de verano (Summer red wine) is a wine-based cold drink similar to sangria and is very popular in Spain.

It is simpler than sangria, normally made up of 1 part of table red wine and 1 part "gaseosa". Gaseosa is a general term for sodas and carbonated drinks, but the preferred mixer is a mild-flavored, low-sugar, carbonated lemonade, of which La Casera is the best known brand. Proportions can vary greatly according to the taste of every individual. Traditional-flavored gaseosa can be replicated by mixing Sprite or 7-Up with carbonated water.

Rum is sometimes added to the drink. It is served over ice, sometimes with a slice of lemon.

The name is Spanish and literally translates to red wine of summer ("tinto" is Spanish for "red" when referred to wine). As the name suggests it is often served during the summertime. It is often home-made, or bought ready-bottled from supermarkets. In the Costa del Sol and other Southern regions of Spain it is common for locals to drink Tinto de verano as it is easy to make oneself, or has many variations of preprepared varieties for the same price as many cola drinks. Sangria is considered more commercial and "touristy" as it requires more time to make and is often sold in restaurants at a more expensive price, whereas Tinto de verano is common at parties, festivals, and dive bars where drinks are affordable and consumed in volume.

Other varieties include: red wine and lemon soda, red wine and orange soda, rosé wine with lemon or orange soda. The mix of red wine and cola is known as calimocho.

External links

• Tinto de verano - Spanish Wine Cocktail from spanishfood.about.com