Simple Summer Sangrias
Sangria is a summer favorite, especially for parties! Even those who are not wine lovers, seem to take to this magical brew! Did you know, red sangria is traditionally made with Spanish wine? Even more interesting is the blood-red color gives it the name Sangria, which is derived from the Spanish word for blood! A bit off-putting perhaps, but once you start to create this simple, satisfying drink, you will be enchanted by the fresh fruit flavors and likely forget about the roots of the name :-) This basic Sangria recipe made with wine, fruit, fruit juice, soda water, and sometimes fortified with spirits (optional). Delicious white versions are made using white wines. It can be as simple as grabbing a wine from the "value" section or throwing in the remains of last night's bottle! However, you can get as fancy as you want, browsing the store aisles for that perfect bottle of Spanish Garnacha (also called Grenache) and buying the best, fresh organic fruit you can find. Let's begin...
Basic Red Version:
1 bottle red wine (Grenache, Cabernet, Merlot, Zinfindel, or Shiraz)
1 cup of berries (cut strawberries are delicious is a sangria)
1 cup of dark grapes
1 - 2 cups of 100% juice (i.e. Cranberry Pomegranate). This is optional, as it adds extra sweetness.
1/2 cup liquor. Brandy is the traditional choice, however, I like to use a natural berry-flavored rum, such as Malibu's Strawberry Rum.
1 cup of soda water or sparkling water (optional).
Mix & serve chilled. I like to let the sangria sit overnight in the fridge to infuse all the flavors together.
Garnish each glass with a slice of your choice fruit, such as lemon, lime, or orange.
Basic White Version:
1 bottle white wine (such as Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, or Pinot Grigio).
2 cups of sliced peaches, oranges, melon, mango, lemons, and/or pineapple.
1 - 2 cups of white grape juice. This will add extra sweetness and is optional.
1/2 cup of Triple Sec. or Malibu's Mango Rum.
1 cup of soda water or sparkling water (optional).
Mix well & serve chilled. Again, letting the mixture infuse overnight allows for a mega flavor boost!
Garnish with a slice of your choice fruit, such as an orange or lemon. I like to pull mint leaves from the garden to top my white sangrias with a touch of greenery.
Cheers to you all! May your summer be filled with sunshine & health!
Do you have a Sangria version that differs from mine? I'd love to try it!
Please share your recipes in the comments :-)
In Grace,
Cara