Colourful and refreshing- nothing spells summer like an ice-cold blend of wine and fruits. And although a Spanish sangria shines in its classic form, there are scores of fun recipes that are just as delicious. We round up a few that would make you the talk of any pool party. By Eshita Srinivas
The world’s tryst with boozy punches, particularly sangria, began with the Romans in 200 BC red wines from Spain and blends made with them were enjoyed frequently. Eventually, this trend caught on across Europe with brandy and a range of different fruits being added to the mix to make it more potent. By the 1700s the beverage was everywhere, including romance novels and important galas.
Today, sangrias are popular across brunch spreads and pool parties and make for a refreshing alternative to more common cocktails on scorching summer days. And although technically, the boozy concoction is meant to be made with red wine – sangre translates to blood in Spanish – there are several other quirky renditions that will change your mind. Not to mention, they’re a fun switch up from the usual wine and fruit affair. From citrusy mimosa to tropical pina colada, here’s a roundup of the most delicious and fun sangria recipes.
Add a touch of fun to your usual sangria routine with these 10 recipes
Classic Red Sangria
We’re starting this list off with an authentic recipe that you can’t go wrong with. Featuring ingredients like apples, oranges, orange juice, lime, brown sugar, and brandy (or rum), this one’s got a sweet, easy-to-drink quality to it. Add a bold, dry Spanish red wine like tempranillo, garnacha, or rioja to the mix along with some good quality ice and you’ve got yourself the perfect sangria. Make this ahead of time if you’ve got a party to host to allow the flavours to develop.
Cucumber Melon Sangria
The only thing more refreshing than sangria on a hot summer’s day is one that spotlights cucumber and melon. This recipe calls for sweet white wine, gin, simple syrup, club soda, honeydew melon, and cucumber slices. Light on the palate, with sweet and tart notes, this recipe is elevated by the addition of mint leaves and club soda. Not to mention, it’s ridiculously easy to whip up.
Iced Tea Sangria
This recipe marries two classic summer refreshments – iced tea and sangria. On the list of ingredients are sweet wine, iced tea, honey, strawberries, and peaches. Mangoes add a tropical twist to the blend. Best part? It only takes a little under a minute for you to whip this up. And if you’ve always enjoyed long island iced teas, this boozy blend is about to be your new favourite.
Pina Colada Sangria
A tiki drink that also doubles up as sangria – this one will take you straight to the tropics! The best part is that you only need five ingredients – pineapple juice, Moscato wine, chopped pineapple, maraschino cherries, coconut rum – to whip it up. Use canned versions if you can’t get your hands on fresh fruits and make ahead of time for depth of flavour. This recipe makes enough to serve a large group. If you’re short on time, use chilled wine and add a lot of ice to individual serving glasses instead of the pitcher to avoid dilution of flavour.
Watermelon Sangria
Second only to mango, watermelon is the quintessential summer fruit. Naturally, it fits right into a sangria recipe. To whip this one up, you’ll need watermelon juice, white wine, vodka, triple sec, lime, oranges, and blueberries. Be sure to chill this for about four hours before serving this one up. For an added flourish, add extra fruits before serving. On scorching hot days, this blend will keep you going.
White Wine Vodka Sangria
This sangria is as stunning as it is delicious. On the ingredients list are limes, fresh raspberries, kiwis, citrus vodka, raspberry vodka, white wine, and soda water. You could switch between pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc, or a Moscato for the wine. The sangria takes just about a minute to whip up and the payoff is a light, fruity, and mildly tart concoction that will shine at any event, whether it be an elegant soiree or a wild pool party.
Apple Cider Sangria
Tart and sweet concoction with hints of spice is reminiscent of autumn. You’ll need to steep pears, apples, and lemons in apple whiskey, brandy, and apple cider for a few hours before adding in prosecco or sparkling wine to the mix. You could switch out the apple whiskey for any whiskey you’ve got at home. Whip this one up for intimate gatherings, group dinners, or just when you need a warm hug in a wine glass.
Strawberry Lemonade Sangria
What’s summer without lemonade? This all-time favourite drink gets a boozy kick in this easy-to-follow recipe that calls for Moscato wine, vodka, ginger ale, lemonade, fresh strawberries, and lemons. Tart and sweet, the resulting blend will have notes of orange blossom and honeysuckle from the addition of the wine and makes for a great punch for entertaining. Be sure to use a large pitcher so as to not overcrowd the ingredients and allow the concoction to chill until you see a change in the colour due to the juices being released from the strawberries.
Mimosa Sangria
The classic tart brunch cocktail meets sweet sangria in this delicious recipe. You’ll need to stock up on orange liqueur, champagne, and orange slices. The strawberry slices and pineapple chunks pack on the tartness while adding a unique sweet twist to the usual mimosa flavours. And all you need to do is add the fruits to a pitcher before topping it with the liqueur and alcohol. Your brunches will never be the same!
Mango Sangria
A great way to make the most of the mango season is to add the creamy, sweet fruit to a whole host of unique recipes. This particular blend is a crowd-pleaser. It features raspberries, raspberry liqueur, lemon soda, mangoes, and rose wine. The flavour is fruity, sweet, and slightly tart and works perfectly with a host of salads and small bites. And with a recipe from Martha Stewart herself, there’s little room to go wrong. Bring this one to a brunch or a pool party, you’re guaranteed to be transported straight to the tropics.
(This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia India)
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