Sangria: Summer Sippin’ for the red-wine-tarians…
In general, I prefer red wine. I have come to understand, appreciate, and respect the occasional white wine, but given the choice, I rarely go for white. Summer is a tough time for us red wine lovers, however. Partially because a lot of red wines are heavier than whites, but mostly because they are served at higher temperatures than whites. And when the thermometer outside is pushing 100, a chilled drink is preferable. The solution? Sangria of course! Here’s what you need:
- 2 bottles of cheap, medium-bodied red wine
- 2 oranges, a lemon, and a lime
- 1 small can of pineapple bits (with juice)
- 1-2 cans of ginger ale
Grab a pitcher. Slice one of the oranges, the lemon and the lime, and add to pitcher. Add pineapple bits (along with the juice, mind you), juice the second orange and add that as well. I occasionally also like to add a sliced apple, not as much for flavoring the sangria, but for munching on while drinking this yummy beverage. Crush the sliced fruits a little bit with a wooden spoon. Some people like to add some sugar at this point, but I think that I am sweet enough already.
Pour in the wine and let the mixture sit for several hours (4 is a solid minimum). Once the juices have blended with the wine, add at least 1 can of ginger ale, 2 if you like your sangria a bit more bubbly. Put a good amount of ice in a glass, pour sangria, drink the glass and pour again.
Please ensure that you are wearing shorts and flip-flops while drinking sangria (or some sort of summer-wear), as shoes and pants have been known to deter one’s body from fully appreciating the delicious, refreshing party of flavors.
How do you make sangria?
