Sangria

Preparing and drinking Sangria, this Spanish/ Portuguese, wine-based punch does not have to wait for summer time; it is an ideal drink for festivity – or better still, it could make a festivity occasion on its own! Here are the two recipes I recently tried and was quite happy with.

1. Sangria with White Wine & Peach, Orange and Mango

Ingredients: White wine, 1 Bottle (for the list of appropriate wines for Sangria, see here).  Peach Schnapps, ½ cup. Sugar, 1 tbsp. Sliced peaches (fresh or frozen), 1 cup.  Sliced orange, ½ cup. Peeled and sliced mango, 1 cup. Ginger ale, ½  liter.

Method: Pour wine and Schnapps in the pitcher and add sliced peach, orange, and mango. Add sugar and chill mixture for one hour. Add ginger ale or club soda just before serving. Alternatively, you could use chilled white wine and ginger ale and serve over lots of ice.
Sangria with Red Wine & Pineapples, strawberries, Orange, Lime and Lemon

2. Sangria with Red Wine & Pineapples, strawberries, Orange, Lime and Lemon

Ingredients: Red wine, 1 Bottle (for the list of appropriate wines for Sangria, see here).  1 Lemon cut into wedge. 1 Orange cut into wedges. 1 Lime cut into wedges. Sugar, 1 tbsp.  Strawberries (fresh or frozen) 1 Cup. Diced pineapples (with juice), 1 cup. Ginger ale, ½  liter. Gin or triple sec, 2 shots: Optional.

Method: Pour wine into a large pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges from the lemon, orange and lime into the wine. Add fruit wedges (leaving out seeds if possible), pineapple, sugar, orange juice and gin and gently stir. Chill for one hour. Add ginger ale, berries and ice just before serving. Alternatively, you could use chilled red wine and ginger ale and serve over lots of ice.

Notes:

1. In choosing the type of fruits that go in to your Sangria sky is the limit. Kiwi slices always look wonderful and you can toss in raspberries, instead or in addition to straw berries. Mostly, though, go with your instinct and tastes preferences!
2. Diced fruits could be smaller than shown in my pictures.

Tip: do not keep the mixed sangria in the fridge for more than two hours, as the fruits lose their fresh look and the drink could start tasting a little bitter.