The red wine spritzer using cola is also very popular in the former Yugoslav countries, where it is called bambus. Coke is usually more expensive on its own there. They also still add water to wine as the Greeks and Romans of Antiquity.
Friday Cocktails: Spanish Red Wine Spritzers
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Credit: MacKenzie Smith
Years later, while traveling through Spain and Italy, I was surprised to see an Italian-American friend cutting local wines with soda at lunch. I followed her lead and passed on ordering sangria (which she said is typically reserved for tourists), and instead refreshed my palate with Spanish favorites such as tinto de verano (red wine and gaseosa, or lightly-sweetened lemon lime soda) and kalimotxo (made of red wine and coca-cola).
Although these unusual combinations most likely originated as a way to sweeten slightly tart bodega wine, they are both perfect for hot summer days. Not only are these surprising concoctions easy and inexpensive to make, but the low alcohol content means that you can quench your thirst without getting too tipsy.
See the recipe for Tinto de Verano »
See the recipe for Kalimotxo »
