Vincotto from Italy and Hibiscus Flowers from Australia-

Porter Foods, a leading gourmet retailer and distributor, will unveil two secret weapons to make your cocktail menu stand out from the crowd at the BAR Show in Earls Court, London on June 17th and 18th 2008. Vincotto PrimitivO and Wild Hibiscus (Rosella) Flowers are both available for sale online at http://www.porterfoods.co.uk/.

Vincotto (literally ‘cooked wine') was a favourite back in Roman times and is now used in a range of savoury and sweet recipes including, more unusually, cocktails. Vincotto PrimitivO, made from the primitivo grape grown in the Salento region of Apulia, Italy, adds a delicious, unique taste profile to a wide range of cocktails and is becoming increasingly popular in Italy appealing to trend-setting Italians.

The fashion for unique and authentic ingredients in cocktails is set to become more popular in the UK market, as consumers seek more unusual flavours, having had their fair share of Long Island Iced Teas and Screwdrivers over the years. A few drops of Vincotto add flavour, colour and a unique edge to cocktails (see Notes to Editors for two cocktail recipes using Vincotto that were created in Italy).

Vincotto PrimitivO is naturally packed with healthy nutrients because it is made entirely from red grapes. Vincotto also contains vitamins C, B1 and B6, manganese and potassium, and most importantly, flavonoids. There are two flavonoids found in red grapes: quercitin and resveratrol. Together they help to reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing blood clots. The flavonoids assist in the prevention of damage caused by LDL (bad) cholesterol by increasing the levels of antioxidants in the body.

Terra del Sud, the wine producers behind the creation of Vincotto PrimitivO, use the same Primitivo grapes for their vinegars and their wines. The combination of high quality grapes and the traditional manufacturing method provides a higher than average level of resveratrol compared to standard balsamic vinegars.

Adding a more sophisticated aspect to a straightforward glass of bubbly or elaborate Champagne cocktail, Porter Foods' Wild Hibiscus (Rosella) Flowers are a cost-effective way of making your cocktails a talking point. They can be stored ambient behind the bar and dropped into cocktail glasses upon request.

A single Rosella flower can be added to a glass of Prosecco, Cava or Champagne to add further fizz and a hint of colour to the drink. The beautiful flower gradually opens to add a touch of class to any drink (although the finest Champagne, unsurprisingly, works wonders). Wild Hibiscus Flowers can also be used to create an innovative new version of more traditional cocktails such as the Margarita.

As bubbles stream from the flower the cocktail cascades from a light pink at the top to a deep purple colour at the base of the glass, creating an impressive visual impact. Once the wine is finished, the flower can be eaten and has a refreshing raspberry and rhubarb taste.