Questions? call 866.909.WINE or email ben@cellaraiders.com
Questions? call 866.909.WINE or email ben@cellaraiders.com
Whether you’re throwing a backyard barbecue for friends or an elegant summer soiree, sangria offers the perfect way to refresh your guests. The basic ingredients for this tasty, colorful drink include wine, liqueur, soda, or another type of non-alcoholic mixer, a sweetener, and fruit. However, beyond the basics you can use your imagination, creating your own take on this traditional, festive drink. While it’s easy to find great sangria recipes online, here are a few guidelines you can use to create your own perfect sangria when you’re entertaining guests this summer.
The wine you choose is the base of your sangria, and if you want to go traditional, red wine is the most common. A Spanish red wine, such as Rioja, is a perfect choice for a more traditional drink, and other Tempranillo-based wines work well too.
However, just because red is the conventional choice for sangria, doesn’t mean you have to stick with it. If reds aren’t your favorite or you have guests coming that don’t prefer them, white wine sangrias, rosé sangrias, and sparkling sangrias are a great substitute.
Once you’ve chosen your wine, then you’re ready to think about the fruits you’re going to use with your sangria. Look at recipes and you’ll find that they call for all kinds of fruits, including citrus, strawberries, pears, peaches, apples, and pineapple. You can get creative with your fruits, but it’s a good idea to go with flavors that are found in the wine you’ve chosen. If there’s a green apple finish to your wine, add some green apples. If you have a wine that has cherries on the nose, add some cherries. Let your wine choice guide you in the fruits you add to bring out the flavors.
If you have a crowd that likes something a bit more potent, you can add some extra booze to up the alcohol content in your sangria. Flavored liqueurs in complementary flavors are great choices. If you’re bringing out the citrus notes with the addition of some oranges and lemons, then an orange liquor may work perfectly. Brandy also makes a great addition to sangria when you want to make something a little stronger.
You have several options for serving sangria that allow you to show off the beauty of it. One easy option is to serve it up in a pretty punch bowl which can also double as a beautiful centerpiece for your summer gathering. If guests will be sipping all day, a punch dispenser is a great idea to keep the bugs at bay. Another option is to serve it in a pitcher, but you should choose a pitcher that has a strainer, so you don’t have to worry about large chunks of fruit falling into guests’ glasses. And don’t forget the ice! Since you’ll be drinking the sangria on a warm, summer day, ice will keep your guests’ sangria chilled perfectly while they’re enjoying the refreshing flavors.
When it comes to entertaining, a fruity, flavorful drink can truly make your guests feel refreshed on a hot summer day. Whether you decide to go with red or white wine, get creative with your sangria and try out different flavors. If you’re looking for the perfect wine to go in your sangria, contact Cellaraiders for more information – we’ll find you the perfect bottle!
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