What could be more French countryside than pulling a chilled bottle of homemade (or at least home-doctored) wine from the fridge for a special celebration? This orange sipping wine is a little sweeter and stronger than a regular glass of white, and it’s the perfect aperitif for the onion tart with mustard and fennel.
2(750-ml) bottles dry white wine
1/2cupsugar
1/4cuporange liqueur such as Grand Marnier
1/4cupPernod
2whole cloves
4Turkish or 2 California bay leaves
2navel oranges
Bring all ingredients except oranges to a boil (reserve wine bottles and corks), stirring until sugar has dissolved.
Remove zest from oranges in a continuous spiral using a vegetable peeler and cut off any white pith with a paring knife. Reserve oranges for another use and divide zest between empty wine bottles.
Fill bottles with orange wine and cool, uncorked, 1 hour.
Cork bottles, then chill at least 4 hours.
Cooks’ note: Orange wine can be chilled up to 1 week.
