Active Time

　　15 min

　　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 .

　　

Ingredients

Makes 2 (750-ml) bottles

　　2 (750-ml) bottles dry white wine

　　1/2 cup sugar

　　1/4 cup orange liqueur such as Grand Marnier

　　1/4 cup Pernod

　　2 whole cloves

　　4 Turkish or 2 California bay leaves

　　2 navel oranges

　　

Step 1

Bring all ingredients except oranges to a boil (reserve wine bottles and corks), stirring until sugar has dissolved.

　　

Step 2

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.

　　

Step 3

Fill bottles with orange wine and cool, uncorked, 1 hour.

　　

Step 4

Cork bottles, then chill at least 4 hours.