Sparkling Golden Sangria

Recipe by Catherine L. Blackwood, Columbus, Ohio
First place and Best of Show, Ohio Wines (Wine Creation), 2018

Baking temperature: n/a
Baking time: n/a
Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

• 3 cups white grape juice, chilled
• ½ cup orange liqueur, such as Coinstreau
• ¼ cup superfine or granulated sugar
• 3 tbsp. honey
• 1 medium nectarine, pitted and chopped
• 1 navel orange, quartered and thinly sliced
• ¾ cup fresh or frozen cherries, pitted and halved or canned mandarin orange sections, drained
• ¾ cup golden or red rasberries
• ½ cup fresh basil leaves
• ½ cup fresh mint leaves
• 1, 750 ml bottle sparkling Ohio white wine, chilled
• Ice

Instructions

1. In a large pitcher or glass jar, combine grape juice, orange liqueur, sugar and honey.
2. Stir until sugar and honey dissolve.
3. Stir in nectarine, orange, cherries, raspberries, basil and mint.
4. Chill mixture for 1 hour or up to 24 hours, stirring occasionally.
5. To serve, add sparkling wine to fruit mixture.
6. Serve in glass over ice.