I usually have a bottle of dry red wine open around the house since I drink only a little at a time. Sometimes I or a guest will be in the mood for something lighter and more refreshing than my usual Pinot Noir, Syrah or Shiraz, so I do this:

Single Serving Recipe:

1/2 cup wine (preferably somewhat dry and of OK quality (i.e. not expensive and not horrible))

1 cup Canada Dry or Lime Perrier (something less sweet than most sodas like 7UP or Sprite)

1/4 cup sweet fruit juice (pineapple, mango nectar, anything not super tart)

Ice cubes (crushed ice melts too fast and waters down the drink)

Agave Syrup to taste

I fill a glass with ice, add the wine, ginger ale or Perier and then add the fruit juice last so that the denser liquid will sink and help mix things up. I give it a brief stir (don't lose the carbonation with vigorous stirring). I then taste the drink to get an idea of how sweet it is. If not quite sweet enough (especially when using Perrier instead of ginger ale), I drizzle a tiny bit of Agave Syrup on top and use a spoon to slightly stir the topmost part of the drink. The goal is to leave most of the sweetness at the top of the drink, so the first few sips are sweetest.

As you consume the drink your palate gets accustomed to the dry alcohol and tart flavors, so you don't want the entire drink to be sweet. (If the whole drink is sweet, the sweetness tends to build up on the palate making the final sip seem almost syrupy). By concentrating a hint of sweetness on top, you make the first sips pleasant but avoid unnecessary sugar calories and make the drink seem more refreshing than heavy.

If you aren't familiar with Agave Syrup, give it a try. You can find it near honey at most big grocery stores and specialty places such as Trader Joes. It's made from the Blue Agave plant (where Tequila comes from) and imparts a very neutral sweetness without unwanted flavors. Best of all, it dissolves very easily in both hot and cold liquids with minimal stirring. I started using it to sweeten espresso drinks, and now use it for iced teas and other things too.

Feel free to adjust the proportions to taste, depending on how much carbonation you like and whether or not you want to really taste the wine or mask it with fruit.

You should choose a sparkling beverage that complements the flavor notes of the wine... so a chardonnay mixed with a lemony soda is super. You can use a blackcherry soda, and extra seltzer, with a good red wine.

You can also use real fruit juices, sparkling water/soda, and the wine of your choice...but remember, if you're mixing, this is NOT the time to use your LaFitte or Rothschild!

I grew up in an Italian family, and when i was young, at special occasions, we'd get a glass 1/4 full of red E&J jug wine and fill it with 7-UP so that's a fun, nostalgic treat for me!

Here is one by Rachel Ray!

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* 2 (1/4-inch) slices lemon
* 2 (1/4-inch) slices lime
* Ice cubes
* 4 ounces Pinot Grigio or other white wine
* 2 ounces lemon lime flavored seltzer water

Directions

In a large stem glass arrange slices of lemon and lime between ice cubes to fill the glass. Pour 4 ounces of white wine, 1/2 cup, and 2 ounces of sparkling lemon lime seltzer water, 1/4 cup, down over fruit and ice. Stir with cocktail stir-stick or straw and serve.
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