Sparkling Shiraz Sangria

• 1x 750ml bottle Knappstein Enterprise Winery NV Sparkling Shiraz
• 1/2 cup (125ml) H by Hine VSOP Cognac (or other brandy)
• Zest of 1 orange
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 1/2 cups (375ml) orange juice
• 1/3 cup (80ml) lemon juice
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1/2 cup (100g) caster sugar
• 1/2 cup (125ml) water
• 2 cups (500ml) soda water, chilled
  • Alternatively, use ginger beer for a little extra kick! Or Lift/Lemonade for a sweet, citrusy twang
• Diced fresh fruit to taste
  • We recommend: peaches, strawberries, oranges, blueberries, pomegranate

1. Zest 1 lemon and 1 orange
2. Juice the orange and lemon until you have 1.5 cups orange juice and 0.3 cups lemon juice. Thinly slice remaining orange and lemon and set aside.
3. In a saucepan over low heat, combine citrus zest (NOT the juice), sugar, water and cinnamon. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until sugar dissolves. Transfer to a jug and place in the fridge to chill.
4. Combine chilled syrup, H by Hine Cognac, juices, sliced orange/lemon and any other fruits in a large jug or serving bowl.
5. Add Knappstein Sparkling Shiraz and soda water (or chozen fizzy) and serve.

Want a little extra kick? Try muddling in a few slices of fresh ginger!

Recipe is an amalgamation of inspiration from our own weekend experimentation as well as Cynthia Black’s recipe and Gimme Some Oven‘s ginger addition tip. Yum!

The Knappstein Sparkling Shiraz offers ripe fruit, with soft plump tannins, and a dry finish. Concentration of fruit balances with savoury spice and earthy notes. The fruit is sourced from Knappstein’s Northern Clare Valley vineyards, where warm days and cool nights are perfect for ripening full fruit flavours with elegant acid.

Blended eaux-de-vie from Grande and Petite Champagne grapes, H by Hine is whimsical. Adventurous, lively and elegant, it is the ideal sidekick for daring cocktails and a flamboyant soloist when served neat with a dash of cold tonic.

Expressive yet discreet, its notes of iris, fresh apricot, acacia and white pepper chime with its sprightly and joyful demeanour. Feels like Coachella in a bottle. H by Hine is a young cognac with a taste for adventure and originality. If not serving in this Sparkling Sangria, serve frozen in a shot glass with sashimi. Or simply over ice with tonic, cider or ginger ale, garnished with a twist of lime, cucumber or rosemary.

Add as a surprising twist to a punch when too many friends show up with very little time, or simply drizzle over a fresh peach salad. There’s only one rule: drink outside the box