TGIF: The Bubbly Grape

Valentine’s Day is long gone but the pink bubbly lives on!

Today for TGIF, I am bringing to you a lovely light beverage that will tickle your taste buds and enlighten your mind.  Today, I bring you The Bubbly Grape. It is an infused drink (I just love an infusion, don’t you?!!!) topped off with a little rose bubbly and a splash of something special!!!

Let’s say you are having friends over for a Friday night get together.  Or, better yet, it’s a baby shower for your friend that’s having a GIRL.  This is the perfect starter to a lovely gathering for pregnant or non-pregnant peeps. The reason it works for pregnant or non-pregnant friends is that it all starts with a super special, infused syrup and then can be topped off with any sort of bubbly drink, alcoholic or non-alcoholic.  Win win!!!

So let’s learn how to make this nifty beverage, shall we?

The Bubbly Grape

First, gather up your ingredients.  You will need Concord Grape Juice (I like the Santa Cruz Organic brand but you can use any concord grape juice you can find), fresh rosemary, candied ginger and balsamic vinegar.  Don’t worry (Mimi Kathy)!  The ginger and rosemary are very subtle once everything is infused.

Measure out your juice (4 cups) and pour that into a nice heavy sauce pot.

Add  2, 4″ sprigs of fresh rosemary and a piece of candied ginger (my piece was 1.5″ x 1″ x. 25″ from my Crystallized Candied Ginger bag from Trader Joe’s.)

 

 

Simmer over low heat till reduced by half (about 30-40 minutes).  Add 1/2 – 1 tsp. of aged balsamic vinegar and simmer for 10 more minutes.

Remove from heat.  Once cooled, transfer to a mason jar with a fitted lid and store up to 1 week in the fridge.

Look at that!  You can be totally prepared for that dinner or that baby shower because now, you have prepped the drink 1 week in advance and the last final steps are super easy!

Pouring your Bubbly Grape:

In a fluted champagne glass, add 1oz. grape syrup, top with 4+oz. Rose Champagne (or sparkling water for the non-drinkers) and 4 dashes of orange bitters, garnish and serve!  Oh so easy!  And so pretty!

Now, who’s ready to sippy sippy till your tipsy tipsy?! 🙂

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends!

xo, Melissa