Erin Doman on July 1, 2015 0 Comments Sangria is a refreshingly fruity wine punch that is a popular summer beverage. Originally from Portugal and Spain, sangria has become popular all over the world, especially in warmer regions. It is incredibly easy to make, as it is usually a simple mixture of wine, fruit, sweetener and brandy. That being said, there is actually a huge range of recipes that you can make: some traditional, some exotic, all refreshing. Below, we have compiled a list of our top seven favorite summer sangria recipes. 1. Strawberry and Peach Sangria Juicy strawberries and peaches are the perfect summer fruits. You can easily combine the refreshing taste of these sweet fruits with white wine for a fresh sangria to keep you cool in the heat. While this is a red drink, it is advised that you use a nice white wine for this recipe to keep it light and refreshing–everything you want in a cool summer beverage. You will need: 1 cup of peaches 1 cup of strawberries 1 lemon 1 orange 1 bottle of white wine 1/4 cup of strawberry syrup 1 cup of peach liqueur 3 cups of ice The great thing about most sangria recipes is that all you need to do for preparation is combine all the ingredients and chill for about 2 hours before serving. Perfect for a lazy summer afternoon! This list includes a few more recipes that are just as simple, as well as a few that are a bit more involved. 2. Sparkling Orange Sangria Sangria does not need to be enjoyed as a flat beverage. A fun idea is to combine your sangria with club soda to give it an extra twist. This recipe combines club soda, rosé wine, and a few kinds of fruits to give you the perfect summer sangria. You will need: 1 cup of orange juice, no pulp 1 bottle of rosé wine 1 orange, sliced 1 lemon, sliced 2 cups of strawberries, sliced 1/4 cup of sugar 2 cups of club soda 2 cups of ice Mix everything together, with the exception of the ice and the club soda. You will not need to add those until serving to ensure that the sangria does not go flat or get watered down. With this recipe, it is best to make it the day before you plan on drinking it. By chilling overnight, the fruits will saturate the beverage so it comes out extra fruity. Once you are ready to serve it, you can add in the club soda and ice. 3. Lemonade Sangria Lemonade has long been a summer staple, ever since you were a kid. Grow up your lemonade a few years by combining it with wine and creating a delicious alcoholic sangria. Another plus of this recipe is that it requires very few ingredients. You will need: 1 can of frozen lemonade concentrate 1 bottle of Riesling 2 cups of club soda 1 package of frozen mixed berries 1 lemon, sliced For this recipe, start by only mixing the Riesling and the lemon concentrate together until the concentrate is fully dissolved. Next, add the berries and lemons and refrigerate for an hour. Just before serving, add the club soda to prevent it from going flat too quickly. For this recipe, you do not need to use any ice. Instead, the frozen mixed berries serve as your chilling element as well as add flavor and a unique aesthetic appeal. 4. Green Apple and Pomegranate Sangria If you want a slightly more sour sangria for your hot summer afternoon, this green apple and pomegranate sangria should do the trick. This beverage is slightly more involved, requiring multiple ingredients such as two different kinds of alcohol and the seeds of a pomegranate–which we all know can be a task on its own. You will need: 1 bottle of your favorite red wine 1 green apple, sliced 1 orange, sliced Seeds from 1 pomegranate 1/2 cup of apple juice 1/2 cup of pomegranate juice 1 tablespoon of agave syrup 1/4 cup of brandy Combine all ingredients and chill for at least 2 hours before serving. You can chill this sangria for up to 24 hours. The fun thing about this recipe is that its green and red coloring make it the perfect sangria for a holiday party as well. 5. Blueberry Sangria If you’re a fan of blueberry, this sangria recipe might be interesting to you. This is another simple and fizzy sangria drink, which is always a refreshing spin on any beverage. While this drink is mostly made up of blueberries and blueberry juice, it also includes a couple citrus elements that give this drink more complexity. You will need: 2 cups of blueberry juice 1 bottle of white wine 1/2 cup of orange liqueur 1 lemon, sliced 1 orange, sliced 1 package of frozen blueberries 2 cups of Sprite Mix everything together, but remember to wait until serving to add the fizzy element. Instead of club soda, consider using Sprite with this beverage. Sprite offers a kick of lemon and lime juice which would perfectly suit this recipe. If you prefer to stay away from using soft drinks, club soda will work fine for this beverage. 6. Grilled Grape and Citrus Sangria This sangria recipe is incredibly unique due to its use of charred citrus and grape. This is a perfect beverage for your summer barbecues seeing as you will already have you grill fired up and ready to go. All you have to do is toss a few fruits on it and then pop them into your sangria pitcher. You will need: 2 cups of grapes 3 oranges, sliced 1 lemon, sliced 1 bottle of rosé 4 ounces of simple syrup 4 ounces of brandy 2 cups of ice For this recipe, start by placing a grill basket full of grapes over the flames. Keep the grapes here for about five minutes, until the grapes start to burst. After this, place the sliced oranges and lemon onto the grill and lightly char them on both sides. Once the fruits have been charred, wait until they are fully cooled and then add them to a mixture of the brandy, simple syrup and rosé. Chill for at least 1 hour, and then serve over ice. 7. Spicy Sangria This sangria is for those who love a good kick to their drinks. Sangria isn’t just for those who love overly-fruity and sweet beverages. If you love a spicy drink, try this recipe for a hot sangria. You will need: 1 bottle of Malbec 1/3 cup of brandy 1/3 cup of triple sec 1 orange, sliced 1 lemon, sliced 1 lime, sliced 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced 2 teaspoons of hot sauce 2 cups of club soda 2 cups of ice While this recipe isn’t sweet, it wont exactly torch your throat either. You can easily adjust your heat preferences by adding more or less hot sauce and jalapenos to the mix. You might also try experimenting with this recipe by using spiced brandy for that extra hit of spiciness. This summer, treat yourself to a refreshing and fun way of cooling off. Sangria is an incredibly versatile style of drink that can be experimented with until you find the right combination for you. This list included spicy sangria recipes and sweet ones, easy recipes and more involved ones. So sit back and enjoy your summer with a cold glass of fruity wine.
