Borgoña

• Red wine, Chilean (Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère or Merlot) 750ml (25 fl oz)

  A dry, everyday Chilean red - the bottle is the body of the drink, about 12% ABV. Substitute: Any dry red wine works, but a Chilean bottle keeps it a borgoña.

  How to choose: An inexpensive, fruity Chilean red; avoid oaky or heavily tannic bottles, which turn harsh when chilled.

  How to prepare: Chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours.

  Required
• Fresh strawberries 400g (14 oz)

  Ripe, sweet berries - they give the drink its colour, scent and the fruit to eat at the end. Substitute: Raspberries or blackberries in a pinch, though the drink is defined by strawberries.

  How to choose: Small, deep-red, fragrant berries; pale or underripe ones stay sour even with sugar.

  How to prepare: Hull and chop into small pieces.

  Required
• Granulated sugar 100g (1/2 cup)

  Draws the juice from the berries and softens the wine. Substitute: Use 80 g if the berries are very sweet, or up to 130 g for a sweeter punch.

  How to choose: Plain white sugar; it dissolves cleanly into the berry juice.

  How to prepare: Measure out - no preparation needed.

  Required

Estimated cost: Low - about $3-4 per serving at home (USD)

info A true borgoña is macerated, never blended - sugared strawberries rested until syrupy, then cold red wine poured over.

Execution Methodology & Culinary Technique

1. 1

   Hull and chop the strawberries

   5 Mins Room temperature, about 20°C (68°F)

   Rinse the strawberries, pull off the green tops and chop them into small pieces, about the size of a fingernail. Put them in a large bowl or pitcher.

   Small pieces give up their juice faster than halved berries.

   Done when: The berries are chopped small and even.

2. 2

   Sugar the berries and leave them to macerate

   60 Mins Chilled at 4°C (39°F)

   Sprinkle the sugar over the chopped strawberries and stir gently until every piece is coated. Cover the bowl and put it in the fridge for at least 1 hour - the sugar will draw out the juice and the berries will soften into a syrup.

   Taste a berry after an hour; if it is still sharp, stir in a little more sugar and give it another 30 minutes.

   Done when: The berries swim in ruby syrup and the sugar has fully dissolved - no grains left.

3. 3

   Pour in the cold red wine and chill

   20 Mins Serve chilled at 4°C (39°F)

   Take the wine from the fridge and pour it slowly down the side of the pitcher over the macerated strawberries, then stir gently so the syrup mixes through the wine without bruising the berries. Put the pitcher back in the fridge for 15 minutes so the flavours come together and the drink is icy cold.

   Pour down the side of the pitcher so the drink does not foam up.

   Done when: The wine is deep ruby-red, the berries float through it, and the pitcher is cold to the touch.

4. 4

   Ladle into glasses and serve

   5 Mins Serve chilled at 4°C (39°F)

   Ladle the borgoña into wine glasses or tumblers, making sure each glass gets wine and a spoonful of berries. Add a few ice cubes if you like, and serve at once, with a small spoon so everyone can eat the strawberries at the end.

   Chill the glasses first - a warm glass takes the edge off the drink.

   Done when: Each glass holds ruby wine, ice-cold, with berries at the bottom.

vital_signs Nutritional Physiology & Benefits

Nutrition

Nutrition values are estimated — calculated from USDA FoodData Central values for the listed ingredients.

Vitamins & minerals: Vitamin C from the strawberries, with small amounts of iron and potassium from the red wine. Nutrition is estimated - each glass also carries about 20 g of alcohol.

restaurant Food Pairings

What to Eat With

To optimize nutrient absorption and elevate the sensory depth, pair with these authentic accompaniments:

warning Digestive Guardrails

What NOT to Combine

To prevent digestive distress, sluggishness, or palate clash, avoid pairing the dish with these elements:

General information only, not medical advice — consult a doctor for personal dietary decisions.

Who Should Eat It

Who Should Eat

• General adultsOne glass is the usual serve - it is much stronger than it tastes, so keep it to one or two and drink water alongside.
• ChildrenNot suitable - this is an alcoholic drink. Offer a mote con huesillo or a fruit juice instead.
• ElderlyBest kept to a single small glass, and only if alcohol fits with your medicines - ask your clinician if you are unsure.
• Pregnant womenAvoid alcohol entirely during pregnancy, including this drink - choose a non-alcoholic fruit drink instead.
• Breastfeeding womenAvoid alcohol while breastfeeding; if you do drink, ask a clinician about timing first.
• AthletesAlcohol slows recovery and disturbs sleep, so save this for a rest day and keep it to one glass.
• Weight gainAt 286 kcal a glass, mostly from alcohol and sugar, it adds energy quickly - enjoy it as an occasional treat.
• Weight lossOne glass is a real share of a day's treats; count it, skip a second, and pair it with a light meal.

Health Conditions — Adjust or Avoid

Conditions

• DiabetesEach glass carries about 38 g of carbohydrate - count it as a sweet drink and check with your clinician about alcohol.
• High blood pressureAlcohol can raise blood pressure, so keep to one glass at most and ask your clinician what is safe for you.
• Kidney diseaseAlcohol and fluid load can be a problem with kidney disease - ask your clinician before drinking.
• GoutAlcohol is a known gout trigger for many people; if you have gout, the safest choice is to skip it.
• Stomach issuesAlcohol and the cold, sweet drink can both bother a sensitive stomach - avoid on an empty stomach and skip it during a flare-up.
• Cardiovascular diseaseAlcohol affects heart rhythm and blood pressure; ask your clinician whether any alcohol is safe for you.
• Fatty liverAlcohol is best avoided with fatty liver disease - choose a non-alcoholic fruit drink instead.
• Food allergiesContains strawberries, which some people are allergic to, and red wine, which contains sulfites that some people with asthma react to. People with strawberry allergy must not drink it.
• Special therapeutic dietsNot suitable for alcohol-free diets; ask a clinician or dietitian for a non-alcoholic version that fits your plan.

If you have a medical condition, consult your doctor before changing your diet.

kitchen Storage & Use

Storage & Use

How to store

Drink the same day - borgoña is built to be served fresh.

In the fridge

The pitcher keeps 1-2 days in the fridge, covered; the berries go soft and the wine loses its freshness after that.

In the freezer

Do not freeze the finished drink.

How to reheat

Do not heat - serve ice-cold.

Freezing recommended

No - this drink is best made fresh each time.

Signs it has spoiled

A stale, vinegary smell from the wine or mushy, dull berries means the pitcher is past its best - make a fresh batch.