Sangria - A Cool Wine Recipe for a Hot Summer
The heat of summer is something everyone wants to beat sooner or later. For adults, finding a cool adult beverage that isn't as filling as beer can be a challenge. Sangria is a great fruity beverage you might want to try this summer when the mercury in the thermometer starts climbing obscenely high.
What is Sangria? It is generally considered a mix of wine and fruit that comes to us from Spain. If you've ever visited Spain, you know it is a beautiful country filled with beautiful people. You also know it is an insanely hot place that screams out for something cool to drink. Sangria is the answer amongst the people of Spain.
The beauty of Sangria is it is very exotic sounding, but incredibly easy to make. As you might imagine, the first ingredient is the old vino. A bottle of red is called for. Being a Spanish drink, I suggest you go with something form the Rioja region of Spain. Don't worry too much about the taste because the other ingredients of the Sangria are going to do a number on it. Regardless, pour the bottle into a large glass pitcher.
Now comes the fruit. You can use whatever you like. Oranges are the standard, but people use everything from lemons to limes. The key is to slice them into fairly thin pieces first. Squeeze the juice into the pitcher and then put the pieces in. They will soak up the wine over time and disperse their natural juice flavors.
Now comes the kick. You should add a tablespoon of sugar to give it a bit of kick. Now add a shot of hard alcohol. The traditional shot is brandy. Some people prefer rum. Others go with gin. Feel free to try different ingredients till you get the correct version for your personal tastes.
At this point, you need to chill the Sangria. Throw it in the fridge over night. If you are like me, you usually don't plan that far ahead. For immediate Sangria, try packing the pitcher in ice and throwing a few cubes in. The fruit will not be properly aged with wine, but you'll have a cool drink that will still hit the spot.
When the temperature rises this summer, take a lesson from the Spanish. Sangria is the way to keep things cool.
What is Sangria? It is generally considered a mix of wine and fruit that comes to us from Spain. If you've ever visited Spain, you know it is a beautiful country filled with beautiful people. You also know it is an insanely hot place that screams out for something cool to drink. Sangria is the answer amongst the people of Spain.
The beauty of Sangria is it is very exotic sounding, but incredibly easy to make. As you might imagine, the first ingredient is the old vino. A bottle of red is called for. Being a Spanish drink, I suggest you go with something form the Rioja region of Spain. Don't worry too much about the taste because the other ingredients of the Sangria are going to do a number on it. Regardless, pour the bottle into a large glass pitcher.
Now comes the fruit. You can use whatever you like. Oranges are the standard, but people use everything from lemons to limes. The key is to slice them into fairly thin pieces first. Squeeze the juice into the pitcher and then put the pieces in. They will soak up the wine over time and disperse their natural juice flavors.
Now comes the kick. You should add a tablespoon of sugar to give it a bit of kick. Now add a shot of hard alcohol. The traditional shot is brandy. Some people prefer rum. Others go with gin. Feel free to try different ingredients till you get the correct version for your personal tastes.
At this point, you need to chill the Sangria. Throw it in the fridge over night. If you are like me, you usually don't plan that far ahead. For immediate Sangria, try packing the pitcher in ice and throwing a few cubes in. The fruit will not be properly aged with wine, but you'll have a cool drink that will still hit the spot.
When the temperature rises this summer, take a lesson from the Spanish. Sangria is the way to keep things cool.
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