Everyone loves summer. We all try to slow down, relax, and spend time with friends and family. But for the wine lover, it’s not always easy to select a wine for a hot summer day. Sometimes, the heat and wine just don’t jive. That’s when I look to Sangria.
Sangria is a traditional beverage enjoyed in Spain and Portugal, and throughout Latin America during the warm summer months and throughout the year. Sangria is a semi sweet, wine-based, fruit and brandy infused beverage that is served cold.
There are many products in the market called “sangria” – and modeled after the traditional beverage – but making a fresh batch at home is simple and delicious.
Sangria can be made with white or red wine, a variety of fruits, myriad sweeteners, sparkling water or sodas, plus brandy and/or other flavored or aromatized liqueurs. The ingredients are combined into a large pitcher (or similar container) to meld over several hours, however, great sangria can also be made in only a few minutes.
The key to sangria is serving it cold, over ice, with some of the fruit that has been used to make it.
Without further ado (I’m getting thirsty writing this), I include the following recipes for red, white and pink sangria. I look forward to your comments.
Red Sangria
Ingredients
2 lemons
2 oranges
2 apples
1 cup white rum (or simple brandy)
¼ cup white sugar
2 (750 mL) bottles dry red wine
1 cup orange juice
1 bottle sparkling water
mint sprigs (for garnish)
Method
Cut fruit into small pieces, coat with sugar and set aside. Combine liquids with the exception of the sparkling water. Add the fruit and mix. Store in refrigerator for 6 to 24 hours. When ready to serve, add pieces of fruit, then ice to glasses and 2 oz of cold sparkling water. Garnish with sprig of mint. Serve cold.
White Sangria
Ingredients
2 peaches
2 oranges
16 oz. fresh strawberries
½ fresh pineapple (or 8 oz. pineapple pieces)
¼ cup white sugar
¼ cup fresh mint, chopped
2 (750 mL) bottles white wine
1 cup brandy
2 bottles lemon-lime soda (or lemon-flavored sparkling water)
Method
Cut fruit into small pieces, coat with sugar and set aside. Combine liquids with the exception of the lemon-lime soda/sparkling water. Add fruit, mint, and mix. Store in refrigerator for 6 to 24 hours. When ready to serve, add pieces of fruit, then ice to glasses and 4 oz. cold lemon-lime soda/sparkling water. Garnish with sprig of mint. Serve cold.
Pink Sangria
Ingredients
8 oz. fresh raspberries
8 oz fresh strawberries
4 lemons (juice and fruit)
1 knob fresh ginger, shredded
6 oz. frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
2 (750 mL) bottles rosé wine
½ cup Triple Sec (or orange flavored liqueur)
½ cup vodka
6 oz. pineapple juice
1 bottle sparkling water
Method
Cut fruit into small pieces and set aside. Combine liquids, including lemonade concentrate, with the exception of the sparkling water. Add the fruit, ginger, and mix with liquids. Store in refrigerator for 6 to 24 hours. When ready to serve, add pieces of fruit, then ice to glasses and 2 oz of cold sparkling water. Serve cold.
