Kalte Ente
Riesling with Sparkling wine
and lemon

Ingredients:

For 2 drinks:
8 oz Moselle Riesling
8 oz Sparkling wine, we like a dry champagne
1 medium lemon
2 tablespoons simple syrup
a few Mint sprigs

For a Punch Bowl or pitcher:
1 bottle Moselle Riesling
1 bottle Champagne
2 -3 lemons
1/2 cup simple syrup
a few Mint sprigs

Simple syrup recipe:
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
boil for 10 minutes

Directions:

1. Gather your ingredients: make the simple syrup, and some lemon twists. Chill the champagne or sparkling white wine. Also traditionally a Mosel Riesling from the Mosel region of Germany. I am using a cocktail shaker because I am not going to make a pitcher or punch bowl full. I also like to blend and really chill down the ingredients.

2, Make some lemon wists by peeling the yellow skin of a washed lemon. Make sure you don't get the white pith, just the peel. Wrap them around around stick, like a wooden spoon or anything similar. In 5 minutes they will take on the shape.

3. Lemon balm mint is traditional but I am using just a spearmint.

4. I used a glass that was about 4 oz. or 1/2 cup. Pour 2 glasses of the Riesling in the shaker for 2 drinks over some washed ice. Why wash the ice? Because it does absorb flavors from the freezer.

5. Add 2 tablespoons of simple syrup. Add the juice of one lemon, 1/2 lemon per drink.

6.I added the lemon and mint and let it sit in the fridge for a minute so the flavors will infuse. Meanwhile I'll prepare the glasses and open the champagne.

7. Pour the wine into the glasses with the twist hanging over the edge. Some say this is the traditional "duck" position.

8. Next pour some champagne into the glass. Garnish with a Sprig of mint and serve!