I will be the first to admit that I will almost always choose a red wine over a white wine. There just something about a full bodied red that makes me smile. But, red wine in the summer doesn’t always seem refreshing. Sure you can make a great sangria with a red wine for the summer but sometimes it can be just too sweet, in flavor, for the occasion. So I decided to hunt for a better solution – something that maintained the great full body flavour of the red wine without going too sweet or too fruity. I discovered something called the Basil Delight using one of my favourite reds from Lindeman’s.
The Bin 45 Cabernet Sauvignon from Lindeman’s is a great go-to everyday wine. It is a medium to full bodied red with classic dark berry and cassis notes. This is the main ingredient in the Basil Delight, along with basil (of course) and some sparking water. Call it an update red wine spritzer.
Basil Delight
- 8 oz. Lindeman’s Bin 45 Cabernet Sauvignon, chilled
- 15 fresh basil leaves
- 1 navel orange, thinly sliced into half-moons
- 12 oz. seltzer water, chilled
1. Gently muddle basil and orange with a wooden spoon or muddler until basil is barely bruised.
2. Stir in wine and let sit at least 15 minutes and up to 2 hours.
3. Divide among 6 ice-filled glasses, top with seltzer water and serve.