Summer entertaining can conjure up many images. A lushly landscaped garden or terrace at golden hour, chilled crystal stemware, a well-stocked bar cart. We’ve been tracking, and sampling, the ongoing success of the spritz which is officially this summer’s signature cocktail with sparkling wine (Prosecco, Asti Supmante) as the base ingredient.
While the trend has been building for several seasons, 2026 has firmly established the elegant aperitif as the drink of the moment. The Hugo Spritz continues its rise as one of Europe’s favorite warm-weather cocktails, giving St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur a revival thanks to the viral popularity of the St-Germain French Blonde presumably served at Taylor Swift’s wedding.
Meanwhile, one of Napa Valley’s most celebrated wineries, Chateau Montelena, is commemorating a milestone in American wine history with the launch of two new spirits designed for its signature Montelena 76 cocktail.
Whether your taste leans toward floral aperitifs or sparkling wine cocktails, these premium pours offer sophisticated ways to toast the season.
St-Germain: Parisian Elegance
Inspired by the artistic spirit of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris, St-Germain is a premium French elderflower liqueur crafted from fresh, hand-picked wild elderflowers (Sambucus nigra). The blossoms are macerated in warm water before being blended with grape eau-de-vie and neutral grain spirit to create the liqueur’s unmistakably delicate character.
Each bottle contains up to 1,000 elderflower blossoms and is individually numbered and stamped with the year the flowers were harvested. Bottled at 20% ABV (40 proof), St-Germain’s distinctive Art Deco-inspired bottle pays homage to the glamour of 1920s Paris.
St-Germain in Cocktails
With notes of elderflower, peach, pear, and grapefruit, St-Germain delivers a bright floral sweetness that elevates cocktails without overpowering them. It serves as an elegant alternative to simple syrup, adding complexity to gin, vodka, tequila, bourbon, whiskey, sparkling wine, and crisp white wines alike.
Two of the season’s most refreshing cocktails showcase its versatility.
St-Germain French Blonde
Ingredients
- 1 oz Bombay Sapphire Gin
- ¾ oz St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur
- ½ oz aperitif wine or dry vermouth
- 1½ oz freshly strained grapefruit juice
- 1 dash lemon bitters
- Grapefruit twist, for garnish (optional)
Directions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add the gin, St-Germain, aperitif wine (or dry vermouth), grapefruit juice, and lemon bitters.
- Shake vigorously until well chilled.
- Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with a grapefruit twist, if desired.
St-Germain Hugo Spritz
Ingredients
- 1½ oz St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur
- 2 oz sparkling wine (Prosecco or Asti Spumante)
- 2 oz sparkling water
- Lime wedge, for garnish
- Fresh mint sprig, for garnish
Directions
- Fill a wine glass with ice.
- Pour in the sparkling wine and sparkling water.
- Add the St-Germain.
- Stir gently to combine.
- Garnish with a fresh mint sprig and a lime wedge.
Chateau Montelena Celebrates an Iconic American Wine Legacy
As America commemorates its 250th anniversary, Napa Valley icon Chateau Montelena is celebrating another historic milestone—the 50th anniversary of the event that forever changed the perception of American wine.
The Chardonnay That Shocked France
In 1976, during the now-famous blind tasting in Paris, French judges ranked Chateau Montelena’s 1973 Chardonnay above many of Burgundy’s most prestigious white wines. The historic victory became known worldwide as the “Judgment of Paris” and established California as one of the world’s premier wine regions.
To honor the anniversary, Chateau Montelena has introduced two limited releases: a Blanc de Blanc sparkling wine and Brandy Release #01, created specifically for the Montelena 76—the winery’s interpretation of the classic French 75.
The Blanc de Blanc is produced from Chardonnay grown at the historic John Muir Hanna Vineyard, a site cultivated exclusively for the winery since 1972. Brandy Release #01 is distilled from Chardonnay grapes sourced from vineyards dating back to 1973 and marks the first release in a planned collection of ten sequential bottlings. Every bottle is hand-filled, individually numbered, and personally signed.
A limited number of commemorative cocktail kits featuring both releases are available directly from the winery.
For travelers planning a visit to Napa Valley, Chateau Montelena offers exceptional tasting experiences that explore the winery’s pivotal role in American wine history while showcasing current vintages alongside selections from its renowned wine library.
Whether you’re sipping a floral Hugo Spritz on the terrace or raising a Montelena 76 to one of America’s greatest wine achievements, these premium cocktails embody the elegance, craftsmanship, and celebratory spirit of summer.
