Skip to main content

Grape-Tarragon Spritzer

Grape Tarragon Spritzer recipe
Photo by Oriana Koren, food styling by Lillian Kang, prop styling by Jillian Knox

This flavorful drink is perfect for a fall garden party. The idea for it came about after I used frozen grapes from our freezer to cool down some sparkling water since we didn’t have any ice. The anise-like flavor of tarragon syrup goes well with sweet, refreshing grape juice. Topping off the concentrate with sparkling water and adding frozen grapes makes it a modern, fun treat. —Bryant Terry

What you’ll need

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 - 6 Servings

Ingredients

Tarragon Syrup

1 cup raw sugar
¼ cup (packed) finely chopped tarragon

Spritzer

1½ lb. seedless red grapes, preferably organic
3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
4 cups sparkling water, chilled until almost frozen
Tarragon sprigs (for serving)

Preparation

  1. Tarragon Syrup

    Step 1

    Heat raw sugar, tarragon, and ½ cup water in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring, until mixture is hot to the touch and sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Let cool, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve into an airtight container or small bowl. Cover and chill until cold, at least 30 minutes.

    Do ahead: Syrup can be made 1 week ahead. Keep chilled.

  2. SPRITZER

    Step 2

    Freeze one third of grapes on a large plate until frozen solid, about 3 hours.

    Step 3

    Purée remaining grapes in a blender until mostly smooth. Strain through fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher, pressing on solids to release as much juice as possible; discard solids. (You should have about 1¼ cups juice.)

    Step 4

    Stir in lemon juice and ¼ cup tarragon syrup. Pour in sparkling water and stir gently to combine. Taste and add more syrup if needed to sweeten further.

    Step 5

    To serve, place a handful of frozen grapes in each glass, pour in spritzer, and garnish each with a tarragon sprig.

Cover of Byrant Terry's Black Food cookbook
Adapted with permission from Black Food: Stories, Art, and Recipes From Across the African Diaspora by Bryant Terry (4 Color Books). Copyright © 2021.

Buy from Amazon or Bookshop.org
Read More
Extra vino? Simmer it into a spiced syrup and pour over ice cream for an elegant dessert.
As energizing as an energy bar, with a much simpler ingredient list.
With ultra-tender cake and a few-ingredient frosting, this is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for all ages.
Rehydrating dried cherries in hot water turns them plump and juicy—exactly what you want scattered throughout a rosemary-scented pan sauce for pork chops.
The high-impact flavors traditionally used in the marinade for Peruvian chicken—soy sauce, cumin, and paprika—are applied to grilled tofu with resounding success.
This Brie galette is party food at its finest—and easiest! A 5-ingredient sweet-salty appetizer that takes just five minutes to prep.
A weeknight-friendly chicken dinner with two kinds of vinegar, dried figs, and a rich sauce. It’s restaurant-quality food in just 30 minutes.
With a gingery egg drop, lots of kale, and toast on the side.