Uruguayan Medio y Medio: Sparkling Wine Cooler with Fresh Peach

Chill four wine glasses in the freezer for 15 minutes. Medio y Medio is served genuinely cold and warm glassware undoes the whole drink.

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups chilled dry sparkling white wine
• 1 1/2 cups chilled sweet moscato or white dessert wine
• 2 ripe yellow peaches, thinly sliced
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp superfine sugar
• 4 strips lemon peel
• Ice cubes, for serving
• 4 fresh mint sprigs, for garnish

Instructions

1. Chill four wine glasses in the freezer for 15 minutes. Medio y Medio is served genuinely cold and warm glassware undoes the whole drink.
2. Toss the peach slices with the lemon juice and superfine sugar in a small bowl. Let them macerate 10 minutes until glossy and slightly syrupy.
3. Divide the macerated peaches and any collected syrup among the chilled glasses.
4. Add two ice cubes to each glass, no more. Too much ice waters down the balance that gives the drink its name.
5. Pour the dry sparkling wine and the sweet wine into each glass in equal measure, tilting the glass so the bubbles survive the pour.
6. Twist a strip of lemon peel over each glass to release the oils, drop it in, and tuck a mint sprig alongside. Serve immediately.
7. Medio y Medio translates simply as half and half, and in Montevideo it is inseparable from the Mercado del Puerto, where it is poured alongside grilled meat from mid-morning onward without anyone considering the hour unusual. The original is a bottled blend produced by the Roldos family since 1897, but Uruguayan households have always made their own by combining whatever dry sparkling and sweet white wines are on hand. Adding macerated summer peaches is a home variation that leans into the drink's natural sweetness while keeping it bright and unmistakably refreshing.

Nutrition (estimated, per serving)

• Calories: 168 kcal
• Protein: 1g
• Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 14g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 12g
• Sodium: 10mg