It's no secret that I love the Golden State with all of my heart - some of my favorite people on the planet live there and since California grows more than 400 different crops, pretty much ALL of my favorite foods are grown there too! Today, I propose we mix up a Mandarin Basil Sparkler wine cocktail, raise a glass, and share a toast in honor of all of the California farmers, ranchers, farm workers, ranch hands, and fisher people that tirelessly work 24/7/365 to provide food, fiber and foliage for the world!
{{ The recipe for this Mandarin Basil Sparkler Wine Cocktail and the post that goes with it was made in partnership with California Grown! We received compensation and product in exchange for it. Opinions are always our own. If we don’t love it, you don’t hear about it. Thanks for your continued support! }}
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8 Years in Southern California: A Paradise of Farmers Markets and Fresh Produce
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Feeding America: The Bountiful Contribution of California's Fruits and Vegetables
Seeing as though more than a third of the country’s vegetables and two-thirds of the country’s fruits and nuts are grown in California, I bet a lot of the food you are feeding your family on a daily basis comes from there too! Every day, you and I both, no matter where we are in this great country are enjoying the fruits of California's labor and I'm just so darn thankful!
Let's mix up a Mandarin Basil Sparkler Wine Cocktail, shall we?
Recently, I teamed up with my friend KC, the G Free Foodie, to create a FREE wine cocktail eBook featuring California wines, be sure to click here and download your copy. Honestly, until we were talking about the project I had never really thought of making a wine based cocktail before, but turns out I LOVE THEM!! Wine Cocktails are easy to make, taste delicious, and are always a hit, lets talk about what goes into this one....
The citrus component
I am a sucker for ALL citrus, but mandarins are my absolute favorite! Their easy to peel skin makes them the perfect snack for when we are on the go and their intense burst of flavor makes them the perfect citrus for this winetail too.
The sweetener
This winetail requires a simple syrup and since we are celebrating ALL things California I couldn't resist using honey that was harvested in KC 's family's orange orchard in Madera, Ca! It's flavor was so intense that I wish I could ship everyone that makes this winetail a little bottle.
The unexpected flavor punch
Fresh ginger packs a gigantic flavor punch in this drink and adds a bit of unexpected but pleasant heat at the finish of each sip.
The herbaceous component
You can't go wrong when it comes to pairing basil and citrus together - it's a match quite literally made in heaven! Basil's punchy flavor really shines with the acidity of the mandarins and gives this winetail a little extra oomph of flavor. An "oomph" is an accurate tasting term right? probably not, but I'm using it anyways....
The wine
This drink SCREAMS for fizz, so that's why I chose a sparkling wine. Any sparkling white wine will do, just go with your favorite and you can't go wrong!
If you’ve whipped up a Mandarin Basil Sparkler Wine Cocktail or any of the other recipes on our site, don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know what you think in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, and PINTEREST to see more.
PrintMandarin Basil Sparkler Wine Cocktail
Make it a mocktail by mixing the mandarin basil simple syrup with sparkling water and ice.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: Stove top
- Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients
For the Mandarin Basil Sparkler Winetail:
2 tablespoons - ¼ cup mandarin basil simple syrup ( recipe below)
California sparkling white wine
ice
basil leaves to garnish
For the mandarin basil simple syrup ( this will make enough syrup for 4-6 winetails)
3 mandarin peels
1 (one-inch) knob of fresh ginger, sliced into 6 coins
2 large, bushy basil sprigs, about 12-15 large leaves
2 tablespoons honey
1 cup filtered water
Instructions
To make the mandarin basil simple syrup:
Combine all of the ingredients for the mandarin basil simple syrup into a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium, high heat. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool completely, then strain out the solids. Pressing on them with the back of a spoon to release all of the liquids. Store in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
To make a Mandarin Basil Sparkler Winetail:
Fill a glass with ice. Add as little as 2 tablespoons of the mandarin basil simple syrup or as much as ¼ cup, depending on the sweetness level you desire. Top with California sparkling white wine. Place the basil leaf in the palm of your hand and clap loudly once to release the essential oils. Place on top of the winetail and serve immediately.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 drink
- Calories: 155
- Sugar: 8.7 g
- Sodium: 3.3 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12.5 g
- Protein: 0.3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
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