Sangria Is The Perfect Summertime Beverage!

Sangria is a refreshing summer drink that is often enjoyed in Mediterranean countries such as Spain. Although Spain claims that this beverage was created there, many different countries have now adapted the drink.

There are a number of different versions of the red wine based punch, including white wine and champagne variations. Here's a great recipe from a reader. One of my recipes is at the bottom of this page.

It is affordable to make, takes very little effort but has great results. It is refreshing, and can be enjoyed anytime of the day or night, ideally with friends. I've spent many a Long summer night enjoying this delighful drink. 101 Sangrias and Pitcher Drinks is a great little book with a tonne of ideas and recipes for you to experiment and try out. You can whip up a batch the day before you need it for a picnic or summer barbeque. Or maybe you just want to relax after work with somehing a little different than your usual beverage of choice. It's easy peasey to make, and you don't need a super expensive wine as your base for it. (although you could use a pricey wine if you want to)

The word sangria is thought to be from the Spanish word for blood, "Sangre" This is why red wine is typically used in the mix. As well as the wine you can also include fresh chopped fruits, soda or seltzer and brandy. The wine that you use can be an affordable table wine; there is no need to add really expensive wines to this drink.

You can also use white wine and make it just like you would with the red wine base, it's just as good and makes a nice change from red.

The quantities of each ingredient that you add will be down to personal taste. Some people prefer very alcoholic versions and others like a tamer drink. Sangria can be made easily well in advance, making it ideal for summer parties and barbeques on those hot summer nights.

Marinating the fruit in red wine before adding it is a very popular way to make this. You can leave it in a fridge overnight, to gather flavor and aroma. If adding Champagne or fizzy wine to the mix, you will not need the carbonated water. These will add the required amount of bubbles to make the drink light and refreshing.

As with any recipes the sangria one has been adapted over the years. It also varies from country to country. You will of course find that the older generations, in small Spanish villages will claim to have the best recipes. My personal recipe,

I like to make a red, (I like white too but I prefer red). So I start with a decent not to cheap, but not expensive either red wine.
I add a dash of triple sec or grand marnier to it,(some people add brandy, apricot works well)
Cut up some peaches, oranges, throw in some grapes, slices of mango, maybe some strawberries too,
let it sit over night or all day than throw some ice cubes in right before serving.

I love the extra punch the triple sec and or grand marnier give it. It's yummy! Goes down to smooth though is the only problem, I could sip it all night. There has been the odd blue moon that I have all night. ;-)

There is also some debate whether the fruit should be sliced or cubed into it. Some people believe that cubing it allows the alcohol to penetrate it effortlessly. I say do what you like to do. Adding ice and larger pieces of fruit as a garnish are also popular. red sangria These touches will finish the drink off, taking you back to those long summers in Spain, or if you've never been to Spain maybe dreaming about a Mediterranean holiday. Although sangria is served all year in hotter countries, ideally at home it should be served in the summer months. It is perfect for informal gatherings and parties, being served from a large punch bowl.

You can choose to serve the this with or without the fruit, as some people prefer it on its own. I like it with the fruit, but if you don't want anything floating in your drink...scoop out the fruit and serve the fruit on top of vanilla ice cream, it is fantastic.

Buying it pre-bottled is an option, but it is never as good as the homemade type. Spending the time to make this simple drink will impress your guests, and add a touch of Spain to your party. Remember there is no right or wrong way to make it, make it up as you go along, have fun with experimenting with the flavors you like in it.

As long as you add the core ingredients, you can vary the taste as much as you want. You can experiment with different flavors until you get the perfect one that you like. No matter how you make the sangria, whether you make it from scratch, or adapt a family recipe. The only must is enjoy drinking it!

Cheers

red wine

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