In my spring quest for maple recipes, I was thrilled to get a cocktail recipe from my sister featuring the sweet sap as an ingredient.  What a great way to kick off the chilled cocktail season!

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle of dry white wine
• ½ cup pure maple syrup
• 1 lemon, sliced
• ½ honeydew melon either cubed or balled with a melon baller
• 24 green seedless grapes
• 2 kiwis, peeled and sliced
• 1 cup Vodka
• 2 cups soda water

Directions:

1. In a large pitcher, combine all the ingredients.  Allow fruit to permeate the liquids for at least an hour.  Served in ice-filled glasses.

Yields 6 cocktails.