It might be a cleverly marketed, money-making appeal to emotion, but Valentine’s Day does give us an excuse to celebrate romance.

Perhaps this year, in a few easy steps, you can charm your special-someone without spending hours in preparation or blowing your budget. Wear something special, dim the lights, put on a mellow tune and shake a Rosé Cosmopolitan just for him or her.

Mix a wine cocktail with the delightful Leopard’s Leap Rosé and other romantically inclined cocktail ingredients and serve with some delicate nibbles such as our gourmet sliders* – a combination of sophistication and fun that might just relax even the most unromantic of souls!

To help you celebrate Valentine’s Day at home, we share the recipe for the Rosé Cosmopolitan and three different sliders. And if you would rather be treated, visit Leopard’s Leap Family Vineyards on 14 February and receive a complimentary Rosé Cosmopolitan wine cocktail with our rotisserie lunch and wine tasting.

For more information, call us on +27 (0)21 876 8002.

Recipes:

Leopard’s Leap Rosé Cosmopolitan

Ingredients

• 125 ml Leopard’s Leap Lookout Pinotage Rosé
• 25 ml Martini Rosso
• 50 ml cranberry juice
• 12.5 ml Crème de Cassis
• 12.5 ml Grenadine

Garnish

Strawberry slices and mint leaves

Method

Mix all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker and
give it a good shake (hip action recommended).

Serving

Slowly pour into elegant Martini glasses.

Slider Ideas for Valentine’s Day

*Slider is just a different name for a small sandwich, served in a bun, the ideal appetizer. It differs from a mini hamburger by being more sophisticated and is usually made with a thin slip of beef cooked on a griddle rather than a traditional hamburger patty. We share a few easy and elegant slider ideas. Take care with your presentation and serve with your romantic Rosé Cosmopolitan, or with a beautifully chilled glass of Lookout Rosé.

Franschhoek Trout Heart-Shaped Slider

What you need:

• Sliced Smoked Franschhoek Trout (or Salmon)
• Cream cheese (room temperature)
• Fresh dill (chopped)
• Lemon juice and zest
• Black Pepper (freshly ground)
• Watercress
• Flapjacks
• Heart-shaped cookie cutter (also available from the Leopard’s Leap Shop)

Assemble your slider as follows:

Use a cookie cutter to cut out heart shapes from the flapjacks.

Mix the cream cheese, chopped dill, lemon zest, a drop of lemon juice and the freshly ground black pepper.

Sandwich the cream cheese mixture between two heart-shaped flapjacks.

Add a dollop of the cream cheese mixture on top of the sandwich and then add smoked Franschhoek Trout and watercress.

Roasted Veggie Slider

What you need:

• Brie
• Basil pesto
• Baby marrow
• Red Bell pepper
• Butternut
• Mini hamburger roll

Assemble your slider as follows:

Preheat the oven to 200ᵒC. Drizzle slices of butternut, bell pepper and baby marrow with olive oil, salt, pepper and fresh thyme. Roast the vegetables until golden brown and cooked through.

Slice the mini bun in half, rub with garlic and drizzle with olive oil. Grill in the oven until golden brown.

Spoon vegetables onto the bottom half of the roll, cover with a slice of brie, drizzle with some basil pesto and cover with the top of the roll.

Black Forest Ham Slider

What you need:

• Rocket
• Dijonnaise
• Black Forest Ham
• Red Onion (chopped)
• Rosa Tomatoes (sliced)
• Mini Croissants or Pitas, sliced lengthwise

Assemble your slider as follows:

Spread Dijonnaise on the bottom half of the pita or croissant.

First arrange sliced tomato onto the pita or croissant, followed by the ham, red onion and rocket.

Finish with the top half of the pita or croissant.

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