A Yummy Sangria

Sangria is described In the Official Journal of the European Communities, “Sangria : a drink obtained from wine, aromatized with the addition of natural citrus-fruit extracts or essences, with or without the juice of such fruit and with the possible addition of spices, sweetened and with C02 added, having an acquired alcoholic strength by volume of less than 12 % vol.

The drink may contain solid particles of citrus­ fruit pulp or peel and its colour must come exclu­sively from the raw materials used.”

The main ingredient of Sangria is wine. The wine is frequently a red wine. However, some wine enthusiasts make Sangria with a white wine such as Viognier or a rosé.

While some wine producers make Sangria and bottle it, my preference is a freshly made Sangria made with fresh citrus fruits. Possible fruit ingredients for Sangrias include: lemons, oranges, apples, limes. strawberries and  canned pineapple. Some recipes use fruit juice instead of fresh or frozen fruit.

Frequently, Sangria recipes use soda such as Sprite, ginger ale or 7-up.  The addition of soda makes the Sangria lighter and thirst quenching, perfect for hot summer days.

My personal favorite Sangria is from a Northern Virginia winery, that has now been renamed. The recipe is below.

Savoy-Lee Sangria

Ingredients

1 bottle of dry fruity rosé
1 lemon, cut into wedges
1 orange, cut into wedges
1 lime, cut into wedges
2 T sugar
1 small can of diced pineapple (with juice)
1 small container of sliced, sweetened frozen strawberries (thawed)
2-4 c of ginger ale

Directions

1. Pour wine in a pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges from the lemon, orange and lime into the wine.
2. Toss in the fruit wedges (leaving out seeds) and pineapple then add sugar.
3. Mix well.
4. Chill overnight.
5. Add strawberries and ginger ale just before serving.
6. Use fruit wedge or fresh strawberry for garnish..enjoy!
Makes approximately 10 – 12 glasses of Sangria. 

NOTE: Do not double recipe – make individual batches.

More Sangria recipes are available on Wine Trail Traveler recipe section.

Cheers!
Kathy