Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
• 1 cup whole milk, divided
• 1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
• 6 tablespoons sugar
• 1 cup well-shaken buttermilk
• 1/4 cup dry red wine
• 1/4 cup water
• 3 tablespoon sugar
• 1 (3-inch) strip lemon zest
• 1 (3-inch) strip orange zest
• 1 Turkish or 1/2 California bay leaf
• 1 cup quartered strawberries
• 2 cups mixed berries
• Equipment: 4 (6-to 8-ounce) bowls or wide glasses

Instructions

1. Sprinkle gelatin over 1/4 cup milk in a small bowl and let soften 1 minute.
2. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean into a small heavy saucepan and add pod. Add remaining 3/4 cup milk and sugar and bring just to a boil over medium heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat. Add gelatin mixture to hot milk mixture, stirring until dissolved. Quick- chill in an ice bath, stirring occasionally, until cold but not thickened, about 5 minutes.
3. Stir in buttermilk, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large glass measure, discarding solids. Pour into bowls and chill until set, at least 8 hours.
4. Make sauce: Bring wine, water, sugar, zests, and bay leaf to a boil in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved, then boil until reduced to about 1/3 cup, about 10 minutes. Add strawberries and simmer 5 minutes. Discard zests and bay leaf, then purée strawberry mixture in a blender until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids). Force through clean fine-mesh sieve and discard solids. Chill sauce, stirring occasionally, until cold, about 1 hour.
5. Bring wine, water, sugar, zests, and bay leaf to a boil in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved, then boil until reduced to about 1/3 cup, about 10 minutes.
6. Add strawberries and simmer 5 minutes. Discard zests and bay leaf, then purée strawberry mixture in a blender until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids). Force through clean fine-mesh sieve and discard solids.
7. Chill sauce, stirring occasionally, until cold, about 1 hour.
8. To serve: Spoon sauce over puddings and top with remaining berries.
9. Spoon sauce over puddings and top with remaining berries.