In celebration of National Relaxation Day, TV personality and fitness guru Brooke Burke hosted a Summer Escape Cocktail Pairing Class and Dinner at Malibu Cafe at Calamigos Ranch with Risata Wines on Thursday, August 5. Arriving with her boyfriend in tow, it was hard for us not to think of the hours upon hours of Wild On! on ETV that we watched in our twenties as Brooke took us all over the world in her bikini – inspiring my own travel writing ventures.

She kicked our butt in a Malibu fitness class in years past but this night she was instructing us again. However, this time it was how to make sensational summer cocktails with Risata Wines featuring Risata’s premium portfolio of Moscato d’Asti, Sparkling Rosé, Pink Moscato or Red Moscato.

We loved the sweet moscato wines but especially the dry sparkling rose with hints of strawberry, raspberry, and floral aromas. One of our favorite concoctions involved the Moscato caleld the Pink Lemoncello Spritzer, an easy to make summer spritzer!

Pink Lemoncello Spritzer

4 oz Risata Pink Moscato

4 oz IL Tramonto Limoncello

2 tbsp lemon juice

splash of sparkling water

lemon slice or mint for garnish

Directions:

Pour Risata Pink Moscato, limoncello, and lemon juice into a cocktail shaker or small pitcher. Shake or stir. Pour into 2 glasses over ice and top off with a splash of sparkling water. Garnish with lemon slice or mint.

Risata Pink Moscato Rita

4 oz Risata Pink Moscato

2 oz Reposado tequila

2 oz pink lemonade

1 oz IL Tramonto Limoncello

1/2 oz elderflower liqueur

2 lime wedges

Directions:

Mix tequila, limoncello, elderflower liqueur, pink lemonade, a squeeze of lime, and ice to a shaker. Shake and pour into glasses with salted rims. Top with Risata Pink Moscato and garnish with lime wedges.

A paired wine dinner followed where sipping the wines allowed me to savor each variety on their own. Sourced from the finest vineyards in Italy, Risata Wines is one of the most recognizable and sought-after wine portfolios in the U.S. With a natural affinity for creativity and innovation, Risata Wine continues to push the boundaries of winemaking and the wine drinking experience by embracing centuries-old artistry to produce its premium wine. 

The word Risata means “laughter” in Italian and this evening under the twinkly Malibu stars sat a table of girls from Los Angeles, Miami, and New York City who were eager to giggle and share some post-pandemic cheer.