My two favourite berries in the world are Halle Berry and strawberry. Halle Berry is probably out of my league this summer but ‘strawberry’ is here and ready to party.

Recipe: The Berry Delicious Versus Cocktail

Ingredients

400ml sliced strawberries

½ cup sugar

1 bottle Versus Red Wine

1 litre lemonade

5 teaspoons honey

Mint for garnish

Directions

Crush and mix  the strawberries with the sugar honey  and the wine. Leave for 1 to 4 hours. Add lemonade and serve over ice.

Cocktails and punches are one of the key elements in hosting a great party.  But sometimes , when you’re hosting a large party,   the last thing you want is to be stuck behind the bar shaking cocktails. This not only takes some of the fun out of the party for you, but it also takes you away from your guests.

The Viva Versus  punch  are a wonderful party potion that are filled with flavour. With a little creativity, the punch bowl can be dressed up to fit any occasion. It’s the perfect solution to easily serve large groups.

Ingredients

3 cups Fruit Juice ( Red Grape Juice)

3 cups Lemonade

The juice of 2 oranges

750 ml – bottle of  Versus Red

200ml Vodka

Instructions

Mix and pour over ice in large punch bowl. Add lemonade or soda water to taste. The idea is not to be afraid of what you add or what it looks like afterwards, because a punch which is a standard base will taste great with any well thought additions.

Versus supports responsible drinking-  ARA

Source: barnonedrinks.com

Wine cocktails are not as well-known as the classic spirit-based cocktails and you normally see much more spirit cocktails on the menus.

But, the glass is half-full as many undiscovered wine cocktails await to be created, explored and named. This is so cool, you can make your own cocktail and name it.

My wine cocktail invention for the week is the Versus Red Devil.

It is so easy to make, very delicious and ideal for the summer.

Ingredients

• ½ lemon
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 125ml Versus Red
• Lime garnish

Preparation

1. Muddle lime and sugar until all lemon juice is extracted.
2. Add wine. Pour with ice into a shaker and shake vigorously.
3. Pour into a glass and garnish with a lime spiral.

If you love drinking Red Wine, you’ll love these Red Wine Jelly Shots!

Instructions

Things You’ll Need

• 1 Small Raspberry Jelly Package
• 1 Small Berry Blue Jelly Package
• 500ml. of boiling water
• 120ml. of Versus Red Wine
• Glass or plastic shot glass cups

Boil the water. After the water has started to boil, remove from stove and measure out 500ml. Pour the water into a large bowl.

Pour each Jelly mixture into the bowl of boiling water. Stir until the Jelly has completely dissolved.

Add the Red Wine to begin setting the Jelly. (The Jelly will probably take longer to cool because of less water being used than normal. If you would rather the Jelly set a little quicker you can add a small amount of cold water.)

Pour the entire mixture into shot glasses or little plastic cups.

PS. Please enjoy responsibly

Source: ehow.com

Buttered popcorn is a classic treat, but every once in while, you crave other flavours. Other popular types of popcorn include caramel, cheese and kettle corn, a sweet, sugary popcorn. However, even these flavours can get boring after a while. If you’re looking for a snack for your next movie night that will wow your guests, get creative and make popcorn using flavours that they won’t expect.

Chocolate Popcorn

This easy-to-make popcorn is ideal for chocolate lovers. First pop 8 cups of microwave or stove-top popcorn as usual and set aside. Combine 1/2 cup of sugar, 1/2 cup of corn syrup, 1/4 cup butter, 2 tbsp. cocoa powder and 1/2 tsp. of salt in a large pot on the stove. Bring to a boil, then add the popcorn into the mixture, stirring well to coat. Place the chocolate popcorn in a bowl to cool and serve or shape them into small balls to make popcorn balls.

Curry Popcorn

Curry popcorn is ideal if you like a bit of spice and Indian flavours. Pop 1/3 cup popcorn as you normally would, and pour into a bowl. Toast 1 tsp. of cumin seeds in a small skillet for no more than 30 seconds, then set aside. In a small pot on the stove, melt 3 tbsp. of butter on a very low heat, then add 1 tbsp. of curry powder, stirring well to eliminate any clumps. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then pour and remove from the heat. Pour the curry butter mixture over the popcorn, tossing to coat well. Sprinkle the toasted cumin seeds on top, then serve.

Barbecue Popcorn

Barbecue popcorn will remind you of a family backyard barbecue, but without the meat. Pop 1/3 cup of popcorn and set aside. Melt 2 tbsp. of butter on low heat and pour over the popcorn, tossing to coat. Combine 1 tsp. of paprika, 1/2 tsp. of brown sugar, 1/2 tsp. onion powder and salt, to taste in a bowl. Sprinkle over the popcorn, along with 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, toss well to coat and serve.

Fruity Popcorn

Enjoy colourful fruit-flavoured popcorn using powdered gelatin mix. Pop 6 cups of popcorn and set aside. Combine 1/3 cup sugar, 80g of gelatin powder mix of any desired fruit flavour, 2 tbsp. of corn syrup, 1/2 cup of butter and a dash of salt in a microwave-safe bowl. Melt in the microwave for two minutes, stop and stir, and heat for one to two minutes until the mixture is boiling. Stir in 1/4 tsp. baking soda, then pour over the popcorn, stirring well to coat. Stir in chewy fruit candies if you would like. Serve this sticky popcorn as is, or butter your hands and shape into popcorn balls. Source: ehow.com

When you’re cold and in need of something to help you defrost, Glühwein – a mulled red wine concoction – is your best bet. This spicy drink – made more according to taste, than following a recipe precisely – has long been revered as a great winter beverage.

The basic ingredients are red wine, spices, and citrus fruit, heated together to diffuse the flavours, and then served warm to bring relief to hands that cup it and bodies that drink it.

Ingredients: · 1 bottle of red wine. Try the Versus Naturally Sweet Red , it  is a perfect wine for making this drink · cinnamon sticks · whole cloves, quantity added according to taste · 1 orange · 2 tablespoons runny honey ·1 heaped teaspoon mixed ground spices –any ground allspice, nutmeg, coriander mixed together will do · Water – wineglass full

Method 1. Put water in large pan and place over medium heat. 2. Add cinnamon, honey and spices. 3. While honey is dissolving cut the orange into quarter lengthways, then cut them in half so you have eight pieces. 4. Pour in all the wine. 5. Increase heat gradually. It should not boil so as when bubbles start rising turn the heat off. 6. As soon as it is cool enough to taste, test it for sweetness. If it is not sweet enough add sugar to taste and stir to dissolve. 7. Let the pan stand for an hour or longer so the flavours develop. 8. Warm gently before serving and spoon out into a heatproof glass, leaving the oranges and cinnamon behind. Optionally garnish with slice of lemon or fresh stick of cinnamon.

Wine cocktails are an undiscovered field and it I’m having a blast creating new cocktails. My new party potion is the Versus Apple Max Cocktail.

This is a simple cocktail with basic ingredients and it’s really delicious. You can determine the strength of the drink by varying the amount of Appletizer.

The Versus Apple Max cocktail

Ingredients

• 25 ml (1 shot) white rum
• 25ml (1 shot) Apple Schnapps
• 125 ml Versus Rosé wine
• Appletizer or lemonade   (as per your liking)

Instructions

Add both the shots of rum and schnapps to the Versus Rosé wine , stir well and then top with Appletizer.

Last night I discovered a true gem of a cocktail.  This party potion is deliciously unconventional and is bound to be a party sensation.

The Versus Grape Escape cocktail

Ingredients

• 5 seedless red grapes
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 30 ml pineapple juice
• 80ml Versus White wine
• Splash of lemon juice
• Skewer of  litchi fruit or grapes for garnish

Directions

Mix the grapes with sugar. Add pineapple juice and wine, then a splash of lemon juice.

Pour with ice into a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Pour into glass and garnish with a skewer of litchi or grapes.

Summer is a great time to get together with neighbours and friends who may have been hibernating all winter. Have everyone over for a ‘Party on the Porch’ – or Patio, or just in the backyard.

Good food, fun and drinks; that’s all you need for a successful event.

Delicious food is one of the most important parts of any party. Depending on the time of day, you can serve anything from appetisers to desserts. If you don’t care about a specific menu, make it potluck since everyone likes to contribute to a party.

Interesting party drinks or punches are always a winner at summer parties.

This Versus Sangria will be the perfect beverage for your ‘Party on the Porch’. 

Versus Sangria Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 bottle Versus Red wine
• 1 lemon cut into wedges
• 1 orange cut into wedges
• 25 ml  brandy or  vodka
• Sliced seasonal fruit (peaches, strawberries, apples)
• 2 table spoons sugar
• 2 cups orange juice
• Ginger ale (optional)
• Ice

Directions

Pour the wine into a jug, squeeze the citrus fruit into the wine, and then add the wedges. Add the sugar, brandy and remaining fruits. Chill overnight and serve with plenty of ice and ginger ale to taste.

Source:  party411.com

I’m having a blast trying to create my own wine based cocktails for the summer. My new party potion is a Versus Rosebud.

This is a simple cocktail with basic ingredients and it’s really delicious. You can determine the strength of the drink by varying the amount of lemonade.

The Versus Rosebud

Ingredients

• 25 ml (1 shot) white rum
• 25ml (1 shot) Schnapps
• 125 ml Versus Rosé wine
• Lemonade (as per your liking)

Instructions

Add both the shots of rum and schnapps to the Versus Rosé wine , stir well and then top with lemonade.

Sangria is traditional Spanish fruit-based wine punch which is ideal for a summer drink. With the Spaniards wining the World Cup  in SA and summer just around the corner, I think it’s time for a summer party with some Spanish flair.

While Spain is heralded as the creator of Sangria, countries all over the globe have adapted the recipe to make a fruit-filled wine beverage that is refreshing and easy to drink with a wide variety of foods.

To give this drink a South African twist , the ideal wine to use is South Africa’s favourite party wine , Versus.

The beauty of the basic Sangria recipe is that it is as delicious as it is easy, and it only gets better as you spice it up with your own additions. Really, it is hard to add the “wrong” ingredient here, think favourite fruits, spice and liquors. Chill and enjoy.

Ingredients:

• 1 Bottle of Versus red wine
• 1 Lemon cut into wedges
• 1 Orange cut into wedges
• 2 Tbsp sugar
• 1 Shot brandy
• 2 Cups ginger ale or soda water

Preparation:

Pour wine in the pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges from the lemon and orange into the wine. Toss in the fruit wedges (leaving out seeds if possible) and add sugar and brandy. Chill overnight. Add ginger ale or club soda just before serving.

If you’d like to serve right away, use chilled red wine and serve over lots of ice.

Source: wine.about.com

Sangria, is a delicious, fruit-based wine “punch” with its traditional heritage well rooted in Spain. Typically, Sangria is made with red wine, fresh, seasonal fruit and a bit of bubbly water or citrus flavoured soda.

It is easy to make, easy to drink and a huge hit at summer get togethers – even for those who are not “into wine.” While Spain is heralded as the creator of Sangria, countries all over the globe have adapted the recipe to make a fruit-filled wine beverage that is refreshing and easy to drink with a wide variety of foods.

One of the beauties of Sangria recipes is that you can use a variety of different wines in the recipe mix. It’s often wines that have not been finished the day before that find their way into a Sangria recipe, or wines in the “good value” category that make for a perfect Sangria blend.

The Basic Recipe for Sangria

The beauty of the basic Sangria recipe is that it is as delicious as it is easy, and it only gets better as you spice it up with your own additions! Really, it is hard to add the “wrong” ingredient here, think favorite fruits, spice and liquors. Chill and enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 Bottle of red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Rioja reds, Zinfandel, Shiraz)
• 1 Lemon cut into wedges
• 1 Orange cut into wedges
• 2 Tbsp sugar
• 1 Shot brandy
• 2 Cups ginger ale or club soda

Recommended wine:

The Versus Red 2008 is a great value wine and will be great in a Sangria. This wine has a  rich ripe berry fruit nose with hints of cassis coffee and chocolate on the palate.

Preparation:

Pour wine in the pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges from the lemon and orange into the wine. Toss in the fruit wedges (leaving out seeds if possible) and add sugar and brandy. Chill overnight. Add ginger ale or club soda just before serving.

If you’d like to serve right away, use chilled red wine and serve over lots of ice.

Addition ideas: sliced strawberries, peaches, handful of fresh blueberries, raspberries, kiwi, a shot or two of gin, brandy or rum, a cup of ginger ale, citrus soda pop or lime juice.

The wine:

Source: wine.about.com