greet your guests

THE WELCOME PUNCH

A glass of wine is fine, but a welcoming punch prepared for the occasion is rather more special.

Juice of 2 oranges

Juice of 1 lemon

1 cup (250 mL) dry white wine

3 tbsp (45 mL) Cointreau

2 cups (500 mL) ginger beer, chilled

2 cups (500 mL) dry sparkling white wine such as cava or Prosecco, chilled

Ice (ideally a single large block)

6 thin slices of lemon for garnish

1 Combine juices, white wine and Cointreau in a punch bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

2 When ready to serve, add ginger beer, sparkling wine and ice. Float lemon slices on top. Ladle into Champagne flutes to serve, leaving out the ice and lemon slices.

Serves 6 to 8 guests