Wanting to create a summery cocktail that echoed the fruitiness of sangria, Sarah LM Mengoni tasted through all of the by-the-glass wines at Double Take in Los Angeles. “It was the flavors of black pepper and strawberry in the Syrah that I really honed in on,” says Mengoni, who made a fresh strawberry syrup and peppercorn-infused vodka to amplify the flavors. “The wine isn’t just the inspiration for this cocktail, it’s the backbone.”