Tinto de Verano

I found out on a trip to Barcelona that sangria is for the tourists, but tinto de verano is for the locals. I was wandering the Gothic Quarter on a sweltering afternoon when I switched out my usual Aperol spritz for a glass of deeply purple wine served over ice and topped with fizzy lemon soda and a lemon slice. It was everything. And the name says it all: Tinto de verano is Spanish for “red wine of summer.”

The drink was created in the early 20th century, when Federico Vargas mixed red wine and soda pop for his patrons at Venta Vargas in Córdoba, Spain. His two-ingredient cocktail is pretty much perfect in its simplicity. I’ve been trying to recreate that Barcelona afternoon ever since, and this summer sip is as close as my Chicago porch gets.

Tinto de Verano Ingredients

• Red wine: Spanish garnacha (grenache) or tempranillo is what you should aim to use in this cocktail. Check Trader Joe’s wine section for a lighter, fruit-forward red. Avoid wines with heavy, complex flavor notes, since that depth isn’t needed here. No need to spend too much, either; this is an approachable, everyday drink, so save your special-occasion bottles for another night.
• Lemon-lime soda: In Spain, the traditional choice for tinto de verano is la Casera Limón, a citrus-based soda. Outside of Spain, Sprite or 7UP are the standard swaps, and they totally do the job.
• Ice: Keeping things cold is nonnegotiable for this drink—a properly chilled tinto de verano is what separates a great drink from a flat one. Fill your glass generously with ice before pouring the wine and soda.
• Lemon slices: They may just be for garnish, but lemon slices give each sip a little extra citrus brightness. A thin wheel or a half-moon slice propped on the rim is all you need.

Directions

Step 1: Fill the glass with ice

Fill a glass with ice cubes.

Step 2: Add the wine and soda

Pour the red wine over the ice, then top it with the lemon-lime soda. Stir gently to combine.

Editor’s Tip: Add the soda last and stir as little as possible. The more you stir, the more carbonation you lose, and those bubbles are half of what makes this drink so refreshing.

Step 3: Garnish and serve

Tuck a lemon slice into the glass and serve the cocktail immediately.

Tinto de Verano Variations

• Try grapefruit or orange soda: Replace the lemon-lime soda with Orangina, or with a Spanish Kas Naranja for a slightly sweeter, more citrus-forward version that still feels authentic. For a little more tartness, try Squirt, a grapefruit soda that’s available stateside.
• Add a splash of vermouth: A small pour of sweet Spanish vermouth adds an herbal, slightly bitter depth that makes this simple drink more interesting for aperitivo hour.
• Make it a spritz: Use half lemon-lime soda and half sparkling water for a lighter, less-sweet version that lets the wine come through more prominently. This is a great option on days when you want a thirst-quencher with a low ABV.
• Use white wine: Tinto means red, but the same formula works beautifully with a young, crisp white like albariño or verdejo. You get the same refreshing fizz with a totally different flavor profile that’s especially lovely with seafood.
• Make it a kalimotxo: Red wine and cola is a whole separate Spanish classic known as kalimotxo (or calimocho), popular in the Basque Country. Use equal parts red wine and Coca-Cola over ice for something darker, slightly bittersweet and surprisingly addictive. It sounds strange until you try it.

How to Make Tinto de Veranos for a Group

This drink is genuinely perfect as a batched cocktail, which is great news because it takes almost no effort. Pour one or two bottles of red wine into a large pitcher, add the lemon-lime soda in an equal ratio, and stir gently. Keep the pitcher in the refrigerator until guests arrive, and make sure your soda is ice-cold before it goes in to preserve as much carbonation as possible. Set out a bowl of ice and lemon slices so guests can pour their own glasses.

If you want to offer the vermouth variation, keep a bottle nearby so guests can add a splash to their own glass. The wine-and-soda base can be prepped just a few hours ahead; just hold off on adding ice until you’re ready to serve.

Tinto de Verano Tips

What’s the best type of glass for a tinto de verano?

My personal favorite is a large stemless wine glass, but any generously sized glass will do. Go into almost any restaurant in Spain and the drink arrives in a simple, tall glass with plenty of ice. A highball or Collins cocktail glass works great, too. Just make sure whatever you reach for has enough room for the full pour of wine and soda without crowding.

What can you serve with a tinto de verano?

This drink is perfect for an afternoon picnic or a mid-morning brunch with friends, and it pairs naturally with the kind of snacky grazing food that make Spanish tapas so singular. Think pan con tomate, marinated olives, patatas bravas, or jamón and manchego. The wine’s fruitiness and the soda’s sweetness make it a great match for anything slightly salty or savory. If you’re sitting down for a full meal, it also works well alongside grilled fish, shrimp or a simple summer salad.