Wine doesn’t have to be a stuffy, rarefied event. Wine is fun. During the last bit of summer, take some time out and enjoy a couple of amazing sangrias that will truly make a sunny September afternoon more fun.
Red Sangria Ingredients
- 750 ml inexpensive burgundy (I use Ernest & Julio)
- 2 cans Five Alive juice mix concentrate (preferred, but hard to find) or 2 cans Minute Maid Orange Juice
- 24 oz water
- 6 oz Triple Sec
- A bag of frozen fruit
Let the juice concentrate melt completely. Mix the concentrate, two cans of water (NOT 4, as the directions would suggest), and 6 oz (half can) of Triple Sec (to increase the alcohol content and also the sweetness).
Stir vigorously. Serve in a glass with frozen fruit as a garnish, so that it also cools the sangria without diluting.
White Sangria Ingredients
- 750 ml inexpensive white wine (I use Kenwood Pinot Gris)
- 2 cans grape peach juice concentrate (I use Welch’s)
- 24 oz water
- 6 oz brandy (I use E&J)
- A bag of frozen peach slices
Let the juice concentrate melt completely. Mix the concentrate, two cans of water (NOT 4, as the directions would suggest), and 6 oz (half can) of brandy (to increase the alcohol content).
Stir vigorously. Serve in a glass with frozen fruit as a garnish, so that it also cools the sangria without diluting.
Wine Tip
Aeration really helps the wine, and every red wine tastes better if it is aerated and decanted. While there are lots of cool-looking, and shiny aerators on the market, consider my lazy man’s approach. Invert the bottle into the neck of the decanter and let the wine chug right into the decanter. This creates a great deal of aeration, sounds cool—and works just fine.
