Wine with Eryn: Summertime Is Sangria Time!

The kids are out of school, the weather is warmer and the days are longer. However, nothing says summer like sipping on something cool next to the pool. And on days when it’s 98 degrees with what feels like 110 percent humidity, a glass of red wine isn’t necessarily what you’re in the mood for. But Sangria can quench your thirst for wine and something tropical at the same time! Below are three different Sangria recipes, plus some easy variations for when you want to change things up. Cheers to summer!

Easy Sangria

1/2-cup rum or brandy

2 tbsp sugar

1 sliced lemon

1 sliced orange

1 sliced lime

1 cored and sliced apple

Preparation: Squeeze the juice wedges from the lemon, lime and orange into a pitcher. Toss in the wedges (leaving out seeds if possible) along with the apple slices, sugar and alcohol. Mix and chill overnight. The following day, add 1 bottle of dry red wine and 24 ounces of Sprite, 7UP or ginger ale. Serve over ice.

Irish Sangria

1 lemon cut into wedges

2 oranges cut into wedges

1 small bag of frozen apricots, peaches or raspberries

1/2-cup sugar

2-3 shots of whiskey

Preparation: Squeeze the juice wedges from the lemon and oranges into a pitcher. Toss in the wedges of lemon and orange (leaving out seeds if possible) along with the frozen fruit, sugar and whiskey. Mix and chill overnight. The following day, add 1 bottle of dry red wine and 24 ounces of Sprite, 7UP or ginger ale. Serve over ice.

“Best” Sangria

1 orange thinly sliced into half moons (with skin on)

1 lemon slice thinly into half moons (with skin on)

1 lime slice thinly into half moons (with skin on)

1 jar maraschino cherries

1 cup sliced fresh strawberries

4 tablespoons sugar

½ cup Grand Marnier

Preparation: Soak the above in refrigerator overnight. The following day add 1 bottle of dry red wine, and 24 ounces of Sprite, 7UP or ginger ale. Serve over ice.

VARIATIONS

Liquor - You can use any liquor to give it that kick: rum, vodka, gin, brandy, you name it. Flavored items add interest of course; Grand Marnier will bring orange blossom goodness to your concoction, while a banana liqueur will add exotic flavors.

Fruit - Maybe you have a can of pineapple in the pantry. Drain out the syrup and add them in. Do you have a bag of frozen blueberries in the freezer? Give those a try. Frozen berries are a fantastic addition to Sangria and even serve as flavorful ice cubes.

Citrus Concentrates - adding frozen citrus concentrates like orange, lemon or limeade adds even more intensity to the flavor.

Wine – For a lighter version of any of the Sangrias above, try making them with a white wine or a rose instead of a red on a particularly hot day.

I’d love to hear which one becomes your new favorite summer sipper! Suggestion: for a colorful toast to the 4^th of July, try making a white Sangria and throwing in some blueberries and strawberries for your red, white & blue.

Eryn Cadoff is an Independent Wine Educator for Vino Virtuoso and conducts casual & classy in-home wine tastings throughout Northern Virginia and the District. She’d love to introduce you and your wine-loving friends to some of the best boutique wines you haven’t heard of (yet). You can text Eryn at 703-786-1694 or find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/WineWithEryn.