What do you get when you add fresh fruit to wine? Deliciousness and beauty in your favorite beverage – flavors that just don’t fit into the simple yet pleasing word “sangria.” Doesn’t just saying sangria make your mouth water? Mine, too!!
Here are two favorites that will satisfy you in so many ways, and they’re made from the same wine. Go with an inexpensive dry white – a basic Pinot Grigio or unoaked Chardonnay. Make sure it’s icy-cold. Cut watermelon into cubes and freeze them. (You’ll use these on day two.) For the first sangria, cut super-ripe and juicy peaches into bite-sized pieces (about a quarter peach per glass).
Put the pieces in a large wine glass or small mason jar. Add 4 or 5 fresh raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries, or combine the berries (don’t overdo the berries, no matter how tempting). Add 1 large or 2 small ice cubes. Fill the glass or jar about three-quarters full with the wine. Top with a splash of seltzer. Stir with a glass straw (I love these!) and try to drink it slowly so the fruits contribute their flavors sip by sip. You may need to add more wine.
—That’s ok!!
More fruit, too. Go sit outside with some tortilla chips. Soak up the sunset. Tomorrow at cocktail time, put two or three watermelon ice cubes in the wine glass or jar. Toss in some blueberries if you want, though simpler is better with the watermelon. A teaspoon of vodka if it’s a Friday. Fill the glass three-quarters full with the white wine and top with seltzer. Repeat the sitting outside part from the day before (and hopefully the day before that).
HAPPY SUMMER! More sangria recipes to come through the month of August.
After all, I wrote a book on the subject – Seasonal Sangria: 101 Recipes to Enjoy All Year Long.
The book is available on Amazon here
