A Sparkly Festive Season with Riccadonna

Posted On December 30, 2012

As the school year drew to a close and the festive season was nipping at our heals, my friends and I decided we desperately needed to get together to celebrate and debrief, the year that was 2012.  That is one of my favourite things about the festive season.  It provides plenty of opportunities and excuses to celebrate with family and friends!

Just as we were organising dates and venues (my place) an email arrived.  From who else but RICCADONNA!  Seriously I kid you not!  They were hoping that I could “Taste Test” a few of their varieties of wine!  Who am I to begrudge them my professional opinion on all things wine? But of course I will need some assistance to perform such a task.  So call the girls, lets have a taste test party!

Yes I could have just invited the girls over, thrown the bottles on the table and tasted away, after all as busy working mums we just appreciate any time to enjoy a wine together.   But I had been wanting to try so many versions of wine and champagne cocktails and this was the perfect time to do it!

The Featured Guests – Asti, Allegra, Rose

We had three RICCADONNA ladies to work with.  Asti, Allegra and Rose.   With some simple ingredients added to the table we had our very own Wine Cocktail bar!

Drinks Bar is open! 

I set this up on our dining table away from little fingers.  I placed the glasses on one end, then drinks and then some little additive extras. How on earth I have lost the ice buckets is beyond me but this would definitely work better with the wine in ice!  This way guests can create their own favourite cocktail.  We included

  • Strawberries
  • Mixed Berries
  • Berry Granita(Simply blend a cup of your favourite berries
  • with two teaspoons of sugar and freeze)
  • Mint
  • Orange Juice
  • Wild Hibiscus Flowers (these are available at your local liquor store and dress up any drink)
Be sure to include tongs or spoons for each selection and if your super organised label each selection.  I added tacky but cute Christmas wine glass charms! Although we loved adding a few of these ingredients to our drink I had some other great reader and guest suggestions; 
  • Lemon Sorbet
  • Lime Slices
  • Mango Sorbet
  • Fairy Floss!
  • A sugar cube with a drop of bitters on it 
  • Pomegranate
So what was the verdict?
Wild Hibiscus Champagne Cocktail with mint leaves, easy!
ASTI – a light, fruity and naturally sweet sparkling wine.
The sweetest of the three, this has been a long time favourite of mine.  It is refreshingly sweet, but be warned it goes down a little too easily and quickly! I love mine just on it’s own or with a wild hibiscus flower in the bottom for special occasions.
ROSE – a light red, sparkling, fruity wine that make the perfect accompaniment to sweet treats and special celebrations. This was the favourite of guests!  It is sweet, light and perfect for anyone who loves a bit of pink in their life.  Perfect with strawberries but to be honest I loved this one just as it is!  This was my Christmas day drink of choice and was perfect for a glass by the pool. 
Champagne Strawberry Sorbet Recipe from Eat Drink Love.com
ALLEGRA – an elegant, full-bodied semi-dry sparkling wine (because you’re sweet enough just as you are!) full of fruity and floral aromas.  I love a sweet wine but if that’s not for you, Allegra is.  This was delicious served with a berry granita! Simply place a teaspoon or two of the granita in the bottom and then top with Ruby!  This also helped keeps our drinks cold a little longer on an unbearably hot Summers day.  
 
 
These three wines have become good friends of ours over the festive season and we have the Asti chilling as I speak ready for New Years celebrations, aka a night in with the family at home! 
What is your favourite wine or champagne cocktail suggestion?
I was gifted these bottles from the Riccadonna range, but was in no way paid for my opinion.  All “taste testing” was done by myself and guests for FREE!!! 
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