White wine spritzer

Pour equal parts chilled white wine and sparkling water or soda water over ice, then stir gently. Add a slice of lemon if you like.

Choose a crisp, dry white wine such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio; its fresh flavours hold up well when diluted. Avoid an expensive bottle, as the bubbles and ice soften its subtleties.

Either works: sparkling water gives a clean, neutral fizz, while soda water can taste slightly saltier. Add it just before serving to keep the spritzer lively.

You can chill the wine and sparkling water in advance, but mix them only when you are ready to serve. Once combined, the fizz fades quickly.

Its crisp, bubbly character pairs well with salty nibbles such as olives, crisps and salted nuts, as well as prawns, grilled fish and light salads.

For an alcohol-free version, mix sparkling water with white grape juice and a squeeze of lemon. Grape juice is sweeter, so start with more sparkling water than juice.

Chill the wine, sparkling water and glass before serving, and use plenty of ice so it melts more slowly. Pour the sparkling water in last and stir only once.