Tinto de Verano
I want to introduce you to my preferred drink of the summer. It’s called tinto de verano. The name literally means “summer wine”. It’s a very basic drink, only two ingredients really–wine and ginger ale. You can use almost anything to substitute for the ginger ale as long as it has a lemony flavor to it. As far as the wine goes, any Spaniard will tell you there is one thing to keep in mind when you are selecting a wine to make your tinto de verano–the wine has to be cheap. That’s right. Mediocre quality is a must.
I’ve had a finger waving in my face more than once because I got lazy and used a low to mid-scale wine to make tinto de verano because I didn’t have any of the cheap stuff on hand. I’m not sure if this is common around the world, but here in Spain, stores actually sell wine in what looks to me like an Orange Juice box. A typical box of wine here in Spain will set you back maybe 60 cents.
I’m still not sure why box wine makes the flavor of tinto de verano just right, but after only a year of experience, I can tell you box wine is a must.
I’d also like to add one more ingredient to the mix since we’re talking about my preferences after all. It’s nothing I’d add to the drink itself. It’s more of a suggested atmosphere. If at all possible, I suggest drinking tinto de verano outside, and if I can get really technical, I’d drink it on an outside restaurant terrace around a table with some friends at about 9 o’clock at night when the sun is on it’s way out.
Many of the restaurants here in Madrid set up tables outside in the summer. I love living in Madrid the most when I’m sitting at one of these terrazas with friends drinking a tinto de verano. I’m almost snobbish enough to think that you can only really drink tinto de verano when you’re here in Spain sitting at a terrace. But I won’t go there.
Head to the grocery store. Pick up a bottle of ginger ale (7-Up, Lemon Fanta, or Lemon Sweppes will do just fine) and a bottle of the cheapest wine you can find, and you’re set to enjoy the summer! Enjoy!
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Pablo said...
Shhhhhhh….you have discovered the secret of the summer!!!! Don’t shout it. Enjoy it.
Janelle said...
You bought ginger ale in Madrid??? I cant believe it! Actually I don’t believe it. Where did you get this recipe??
For me Tinto de verano has to be with Fanta Limon or maybe naranja.
I know. I’m a difficult person to know. Sorry.
Saludos from Madrid!
kelly said...
Hey Janelle. You are a difficult one! Why don’t you take all that bottled-up energy (pun intended) and tell me what you think of my latest article, the one on barrios in Madrid.
http://kellycrull.com/madrid/best_places_to_live_/index.html
You are the queen of the city, afterall. At least to April and me.
But, I’m avoiding the subject. You’re right. You got me. There is no Ginger Ale in Madrid. Actually, I use Casera. But if you don’t live in Spain, you don’t know what Casera is, so when I was writing this article I was trying to think of another drink that could substitute. It’s funny, though, because I ended up not mentioning Casera at all. Oops!
By the way, I saw the website for your new Food & Wine Tours in Madrid. http://www.saborestours.com/ Well done. I love the logo!
melissa said...
Great info! I am going to a Summer party and want to bring ingredients to make “tinto’s” (a long ago favorite for me from when I lived in Madrid) and can’t find Fanta Limon anywhere. I hadn’t a clue what to use in it’s place and now I have a couple of suitable subs. Thanks, and cheers!!
Rebecca said...
I also discovered this delicious drink in Spain, and have introduced it to my friends back here in the US. Oh yeah, nothing makes a tinto better than the boxed wine in Spain. When I make it here at home I use fresca, works like a charm, cheers!
oldsod said...
discovered this blog randomly, as it’s hot here in NYC and i was thinking of taking some tinto makings out to a party tonight. i’ve got a bottle of Carro Tinto from Murcia. maybe it’s not the true tinto, but i have to add that here in the U.S., Orangina works nicely as a Casera substitute. i prefer it to Sprite, which is too sweet for a tinto, IMHO.
cheers!
tom
alan said...
Schweppes Ginger Ale is readily available in Mercadona and Carrefour supermarkets,although you may have to look carefully, it does sell VERY quickly. Great article, by the way. Most of my customers prefer to drink Fanta Limon with the wine, but the English ex pats and Dutch seem to like Ginger Ale more.
Naomi said...
what is casera exactly - and can you buy it in the US? I had it when I was 12 in Mexico but haven’t been able to find it anywhere else!
nick l said...
pop half a shot of martini rosso or rosada, and u r good to go