Hip Tastes Blog

Viva Sangria!
filed under: Ramblings

This just in, another story by my fabulous summer intern, wine lover, and current UCLA senior, Taylor Price! Read on for her musings on Sangria, the perfect drink for these hot summer days. And in case you missed it, make sure to check out her first story on Pinky Vodka!

In Taylor's Words:
One of my favorite memories of this past year brings me back to Madrid with two girlfriends, relaxing after a busy day over a heaping plate of paella and the most enjoyable Sangria of my life. There's something about the memory of this Sangria, overflowing with fresh fruit and delicious Spanish red wine, which transports me back to that amazing day with a huge smile on my face. And although I have returned to lovely California, there are times when I find it necessary to recreate the magic, (or in this case, the Sangria!) of those memories.

In case you couldn't tell, Sangria happens to be one of my absolute favorite drinks. I think of it like the Mole sauce of the drink world: throw in a bunch of different ingredients, experiment with flavors, tailor it how you'd like, and basically see what you get. I've made Sangria countless times and every time it's different. Sometimes I'll change the recipe a bit, try a different wine or juice, squeeze in a lime here or there, maybe add some club soda or even ginger ale, etc. The sky is the limit! Throughout my self-taught Sangria education, I have come up with a few guidelines that I always follow: a full bottle of wine, the addition of something fizzy (whether it be orange soda-great for red sangria, or a mix of club soda and ginger ale-great for white), some fruit juice (apple, orange, lemonade or a mixture of two or three), and fresh fruit. Sangria is all about personal preferences. If you're serving a lot of people, you may want to go heavier on the fizzy or juicy additions. If you just need to relax after a stressful day and keep it basic, stick to club soda and limit the juice so the wine really stands out on its own. All in all, Sangria is meant to be fun, fruity, and not too strong. The perfect summer drink!

Here are some recipes of both red and white Sangria that I have had great luck with. Try these versions and improvise on your own, but most importantly, have fun, sit back, and ENJOY!

Red Sangria:
1. One bottle of red wine (I like to go with an inexpensive bottle of Spanish Rioja...no need to be super selective here as you will be adding to it!)
2. About a cup and a half of orange soda. If I have lemon soda, I like to do a half cup orange and one cup lemon). If the idea of orange soda seems strange or if you want to limit the added fruitiness, exchange the orange for club soda. You can really do whatever you want here. Just make sure not to add too much of anything fizzy. These small portions won't make the end product spritzy, but rather just add a nice little kick in flavor and consistency.
3. Mix in some juice in there. I never really measure when I add ingredients but I like to do about 1/2 to one cup orange, the same amount of lemonade, and perhaps some apple. Limeade is great too. It's all about preference. I personally think that the flavors of oranges and lemons go best with sangria in general, so I even like to squeeze a full lemon and orange into the mix. Taste what you have so far and add accordingly.
4. Add the cut fruit-apples, peaches, oranges, lemon slices, etc. Stir it up and let it sit in your refrigerator for at least a half hour.

White Sangria:
1. One bottle of a cheap, dry white. I personally like Sauvignon Blanc for Sangria, although my favorite white Sangria I've ever made was with Gewurztraminer.
2. One cup club soda and 3/4 cup ginger ale. If you hate sweet, limit the ginger ale. I think it adds a nice little kick of flavor myself.
3. About 1/2 cup orange juice and one cup limeade. Don't worry about exact measurements. Add according to taste.
4. Squeeze a lemon/lime or two in there. I love the added tartness. Obviously if you like it sweeter, stick with oranges.
5. Add the fresh fruit-peaches, granny smith apples, lemon and orange slices, raspberries, etc.
6. Let everything infuse and leave in the fridge for about a half hour.

NOTE: Many people like to add another form of alcohol to their Sangria. I personally like to stick to wine, but again, it's all about your personal preference!

Sangria fiesta idea:
If you really want to have a good time with Sangria, make several pitchers (a good mix of red and white), blast the Gypsy Kings, prepare a banquet of Spanish Tapas and artisanal Spanish cheeses, and invite over all your friends. Make sure to require a dress code appropriate for flamenco or salsa dancing!

Cheers, Taylor

Posted by Courtney on September 1, 2009 04:09 PM