Since I’m on the topic of grapes this week, I went out and got a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon and Concord grape juice too.

I may not be able to finish the wine since I’m not a big fan of it.  Yet I do love vineyards!

So I will probably use the wine to make Sangria and also the rest to make “Wine soap”. I also found two soap companies that inspired me to make wine soap. They are the Napa Soap Company and the Grapeseed Company from Santa Barbara. And both of these places mention there may be some botanical benefits to adding wine to soap.

Pretty bar of soap from Napa Soap.  6 oz for $7.95 each.  “Cabernet Soapignon”

Here is a list of their ingredients:

“intoxicating blend of grapeseed, olive, coconut, palm & sweet almond oils, cocoa butter and a healthy dose of Napa Valley red wine. The delightful combination of ingredients and the fruity scent, makes this a Napa Valley favorite!”

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We’ve had quite a heatwave this past weekend in northern California.  To help me cool down, I like to make peppermint green tea and let it chill in the fridge for a couple of hours.  The peppermint helps you feel instantly cooler and the lime makes the tea a healthier drink.

Cooling minty green tea with lime recipe:

6 cups of water, 3 green tea bags, handful of fresh mint leaves, 1 whole lime sliced and juiced, 2 tbsp of agave nectar.Just boil the water, add the tea bag (let in steep for 5-10 minutes).  Add the fresh mint leaves, lime juice, and agave syrup.  Stir, let it cool and then refrigerate until cold.

You can even add some fresh sprigs of mint for an extra cooling and refreshing tea.

Another drink I remember enjoying on hot summer evening is Sangria.  My first glass of Sangria was in hot and humid Key West, Florida.  I am not a big fan of wine, and Sangria is more like fruit punch wine and pretty good.

Here is a beautiful hand painted ceramic Sangria pitcher from Spain.  Visit the site for a simple Sangria recipe.  Or try my recipe using a bottle of Merlot.

This tall hand thrown pitcher is the perfect way to serve Sangria - a festive, warm weather drink full of fruit and wine. It holds about 2 liters - half a gallon of cool refreshment. The pinched spout will help the wine flow freely and keep the slices of fruit where they belong — inside! (Food safe, lead free, hand wash.) - LaTienda.com

Sangria is usually red or white wine mixed with brandy, sugar, fruit juice, and soda water.  It is a popular wine “punch” originally from Spain and Portugal.  There are other variations to the recipe.

You can start with red wines such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir or Shiraz.  But you can also use white wine as well.

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