Sangria is a fruity, wine based punch that originated in Spain, apparently. It can be traced back to the 18th century, with variations found throughout not only Spain but Greece, England and Portugal. It is also commonly found at my place!
The thing I love best about Sangria, apart from the fact that it is SO easy to drink, is that it is SO easy to make!
There are no hard and fast rules, in fact, searching for a "recipe" yields 22 MILLION results. To say that there is flexibility in the making of Sangria is an understatement. The problem with this level of flexibility though is that it can be confusing, when I started making it, I wasn't sure how much I could play with the recipe without ruining it.
To save you this worry, we've put together our 3 favourite recipes - one red wine based, one white wine based, and a non alcoholic version. Cheers! (and please remember to drink responsibly!)
Sangria Rosso
You will need:
* 1 bottle (750ml) of red wine - I like Lambrusco, because it is sweet, excellent chilled, and very reasonably priced
* 2 cups (500ml) soft drink - Ginger Ale is my preference, but you can use Lemonade if you prefer
* 1 cup (250ml) orange juice
* 3/4 cup (200ml) of brandy (optional, feel free to omit, or substitute with more soft drink or juice to lower the overall alcohol volume)
* Cut fruit - this is where you can have fun, I stick to oranges, apples and strawberries, but you can match it to the flavours of whatever you are eating, or try something simple but striking like pineapple and lime, or an assortment of berries! You can also add torn mint leaves for a fresh twist.
Cut your fruit into small pieces and put into a large jug. Remember you will end up with almost 2 litres of Sangria. Add the brandy and allow the fruit to soak for a while. Add the wine, soft drink and juice, and chill before serving. Pour over ice, and enjoy!
Sangria Blanco
You will need:
* 1 bottle (750ml) of white wine - sweet fruity wines work best in my opinion, like a Sauvignon Blanc or a Pinot Grigio.
* 2 cups (500ml) soft drink - Lemonade is perfect here
* 1 cup (250ml) orange or pineapple juice
* 3/4 cup (200ml) of brandy (optional, feel free to omit, or substitute with more soft drink or juice to lower the overall alcohol volume)
* Cut fruit - I tend to go lighter and sweeter with the fruit in the white version, using things like peaches and nectarines and green grapes. You can also use pineapple or lime, and add some torn mint leaves to freshen it up further.
Cut your fruit into small pieces and put into a large jug. Remember you will end up with almost 2 litres of Sangria. Add the brandy and allow the fruit to soak for a while. Add the wine, soft drink and juice, and chill before serving. Pour over ice, and enjoy!
Virgin Sangria
You will need:
* 1 cup (250ml) of dark grape juice
* 1 cup (250ml) of cranberry juice
* 1 cup (250ml) of pineapple juice
* 1 cup (250ml) of orange juice
* 2 cups (500ml) soft drink - Ginger Ale or Lemonade, whichever you prefer
* Cut fruit - As with the other versions, you can choose whatever fruits you prefer, but sticking to the fruits that you have included with the juice is always a safe bet. Add some torn mint leaves if you like!
Cut your fruit into small pieces and put into a large jug. Remember you will end up with almost 2 litres of Sangria. Add the soft drink and juice, and chill before serving. Pour over ice, and enjoy!
