Merlot Spritz with Cherry, Cardamom and Chai

In The Kitchen

Cherry Cardamom & Chai Spritz

This spritz features a few favorite winter flavors, but it's also a little nod to the summer that will come again. Taking notes from our Merlot, this spritzer doubles up on cherries and tea, but it also works well with our Red blend (or no alcohol at all).

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Directions:

Cherry Cardamom Mash:

Half and pit the fresh cherries and toss them in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the sugar if you’d like to balance out the cherries or skip it to keep the mash a bit more tart. Stir frequently for a minute or so and add the ground cardamom once you see cherry juice in the pan. Continue to stir for another minute. Once the cherries are thoroughly warmed, mash until they’ve lost their shape and are starting to look more like a jam or compote. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

Merlot Spritz:

To start, steep some of your sparkling water with chai tea. Add to a glass with the merlot, and stir in a big tablespoon of cherry cardamom mash. With the stirring and time steeping, it may have lost its effervescence so don’t forget to add in fresh sparkling water to finish.