Tinto de Verano (2 Ingredient Red Wine Cocktail)

This Tinto de Verano recipe is for a refreshing drink with two simple ingredients. It’s a Spanish cocktail that is made from red wine and citrus soda.

While it is typically considered a warm weather or summer wine cocktail, it can be enjoyed year-round and is easily batched to serve at gatherings like holiday parties, bridal showers, and so much more. It’s always the perfect time for this cocktail!

If you love easy wine cocktails, you definitely need to try my French 95 or Sweet Vermouth Spritz. Or, if you like classic wine-based drinks, try the Limoncello Spritz.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Easy – you can’t get any easier than this 2 ingredient cocktail!

Refreshing – fruity red wine combined with citrus and bubbly gives this cocktail a deeply refreshing quality. It’s also a low alcohol content (low ABV) drink, so it’s perfect for those that don’t want something too strong. 

Adaptable – you can easily adjust the ratio of ingredients to suit your preferences.

What is a Tinto de Verano?

It is a simple, yet, very popular Spanish drink made with red wine and some sort of sweet soda. It translates to “red wine of summer.” 

It is enjoyed as an alternative to Spanish Sangria and is commonly served over ice cubes with garnishes of citrus. It makes for the perfect cocktail for a party or gathering as it is very easy to scale to serve a crowd.

Ingredient Notes

Red wine – for this cocktail, you should choose a fruit-forward wine with low tannins. I have some specific recommendations for the best wines to use in the FAQ section below. 

Lemon lime soda – You can use any type of lemon-lime soda that you enjoy – Sprite, 7-Up, Sierra Mist, or you can make your own homemade lemon-lime soda as I did. An Instagram follower mentioned that their preferred lemon lime soda for a Tinto de Verano is Jarritos Lemon Lime, which you can find in the Latin section of the grocery store or a local Latin market. Many recipes also use Lemon Fanta (or Fanta Limón), but sadly this is not available in the U.S. at the time of writing this post. 

Fresh citrus slices – garnishing and adding a few lime and lemon slices to the cocktail, provides an extra pop of flavor and a nice finishing touch to the cocktail. You can even add other citrus fruits like orange slices.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Add red wine to a cocktail glass filled with ice. Then, add the lemon-lime soda.

Step 2: Stir the cocktail, moving the spoon up and down while stirring to evenly distribute the flavors. Then garnish with a slice of lemon and lime.

Expert Tips and Variations

Instead of lemon lime soda, try a sparkling lemonade such as San Pellegrino Limonata, which you can also find in many grocery stores. 

Add a splash of vermouth to the cocktail to contribute another layer of flavor complexity. I recommend sweet vermouth. While not a Spanish vermouth, one of my favorite sweet vermouth brands is Carpano Antica Formula. 

FAQ

What kind of red wine should I use for a Tinto de Verano?

Use a medium-tier red wine. Look for a bottle of red wine that tastes good on its own, but not one that you would spend a lot of money on. Don’t waste the expensive stuff in a wine cocktail, but also don’t go too cheap.

I’d go for one in the $15-20 range. Varieties that I recommend are Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Rioja, or Beaujolais (Gamay) to name a few. I used a Carménère that I had on hand, and it worked beautifully. 

What is the difference between traditional Sangria and Tinto de Verano?

They are both Spanish wine-based drinks, but Sangria includes chopped fresh fruit and usually a spirit such as brandy or triple sec, resulting in a more complex flavor and longer preparation time.

Tinto de Verano, on the other hand, has fewer ingredients making it a simpler, lighter drink made with equal parts red wine and lemon lime soda. 

Can I make a batch of the cocktail?

Yes, you can absolutely make a batch of Tinto de Verano. Just multiply the single-serving recipe by the number of servings you want, and mix your red wine and citrus soda in a large pitcher.

Serve over ice and garnish each glass as desired. I have additional details below in the recipe card for making a batch that serves 8.

Can I make batch in advance?

I don’t recommend mixing the batch very far in advance as this could result in the bubbles going flat. I do recommend chilling your red wine and soda in advance so that you can quickly mix in a pitcher right before serving.