Tinto de Verano (Single Serve or Pitcher)
This Spanish Tinto de Verano is a classic summer cocktail made with a younger red wine, lemon soda, and a slice of lemon. It’s an easy drink to mix up as a single serving or in a pitcher for a group, with just 5 ingredients. Add a splash of Vermouth for a layer of aromatic complexity if you’d like!
This fizzy, fruity cocktail is one of my favorite takeaways from my recent trip to Spain.
The combination of fruity red wine with the citrusy sweet soda makes for a super refreshing and light drink, that’s especially great for sharing!
We love making a pitcher of tinto de verano to share with friends, served with some small tapas-style bites (like marinated olives, patatas bravas, papas rellenas, and croquetas de jamon), to really share the experience of summertime in Spain.
5 Ingredients
- red wine (preferably a young Tempranillo or Cabernet Sauvignon)
- lemon soda (I recommend Lemon Fanta or San Pellegrino Lemon Soda)
- Vermouth – (optional but recommended!)
- lemon slice
- ice
Find the exact quantities for a pitcher vs. a single cocktail in the recipe card below.
Instructions
Tip: Only add ice to the pitcher if you plan on serving immediately – otherwise wait to serve over ice when ready to drink so the cocktail doesn’t get watered down.
To Vermouth or Not To Vermouth?
Vermouth adds a complexity to Tinto de Verano that many drinkers appreciate. It’s known for its slightly bitter, botanical aromatics, which compliments the sweetness of this cocktail and adds depth.
Feel free to skip this ingredient if you don’t like it or can’t find it.
Fun Bites to Serve Alongside
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting Spain, you know tapas are never far from a good cocktail. Here are some of my favorite small bites to serve with this fun summer cocktail:
Special Equipment & Ingredients
This is a super simple cocktail to mix up, meaning you don’t need any special bar tools or equipment.
If my liquids haven’t had time to chill I’ll sometimes use a cocktail shaker to shake it up with ice, resulting in a perfectly chilled drink. But it isn’t at all necessary. Feel free to stir up a single serving in the same glass you’ll drink out of, to keep things simple.
One special ingredient that’s often ignored in Spanish (and European) drinks is ice. For this drink you must use ice, to ensure it’s chilled and refreshing, as intended!
More Summery Cocktails
Please remember to always drink responsibly!
Buen provecho,
Tinto de Verano (Single Serve or Pitcher)
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1–4 cocktails 1x
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: Spanish
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Spanish Tinto de Verano is a classic summer cocktail made with a younger red wine, lemon soda, and a slice of lemon. It’s an easy drink to mix up as a single serving or in a pitcher for a group, with just 5 ingredients. Add a splash of Vermouth for a layer of aromatic complexity if you’d like!
Ingredients
For A Single Cocktail:
- 2 oz red wine (preferably a young Tempranillo or Cabernet Sauvignon)
- 2 oz lemon soda (I recommend Lemon Fanta or San Pellegrino Lemon Soda)
- 1/4 oz Vermouth (optional)
- 1 lemon slice
- ice
For a Pitcher:
- 2 cups red wine (preferably a young Tempranillo or Cabernet Sauvignon)
- 2 cups lemon soda (I recommend Lemon Fanta or San Pellegrino Lemon Soda)
- 1/4 cup Vermouth (optional)
- 4 lemon slices
- ice
Instructions
- Combine liquids. Add ice to a pitcher or glass filled with ice (depending on if making a pitcher or single serving). Cover ice with the red wine, Vermouth (if using), and lemon soda. Stir.
- Serve. Serve with a slice (and optional squeeze) of lemon. Buen provecho!
