How to make: Spanish Summer Sangria

I think we can all agree that the Spanish do it well, and by “it” we mean basically everything... Spain has gifted the world with all the best things like tapas, siestas, paella, and importantly, Sangria. And really, does it get any better than a summer afternoon spent sipping this lush fruity beverage? I think not.

The bases of any good sangria is typically red wine, fruit juices, fruit and sometimes brandy. When making your own Sangria, use a good quality wine, and if at all possible let it chill overnight. This lets the fruit flavours blend into the drink. But the beauty of sangria is that you can make your own - with whatever fruits, liquor, or wine you’re feeling.

But before we continue, time for a bit of DRUNK HISTORY! To dig into the history of Sangria we have to go back hundreds of years. While we see Sangria as a beach side, day drinking activity, it definitely didn’t start out that way. The vineyards of Spain grew out of many battles and bloodshed - which is why ’sangria’ once was the word for blood. But fast forward thousands of years and history was made in the United States when the sangria was brought to the 1964 world’s fair in New York City. Sangria is now enjoyed around the world, in restaurants, cafes, bars, and especially at home.

So here's what you'll need to make this tasty summer drink:

• 1 red apple - cored, skin on, chopped into small pieces.
• 1 orange - Leave rind on, sliced into small pieces, with large seeds removed - save some for garnish.
• 3-4 Tbsp (41-55 g) brown sugar - Tip: start with less sugar and add more to taste.
• 180 ml orange juice - Taste and add more if desired.
• 80 ml brandy - Add more to taste for a boozier sangria. And Rum is also a fine substitute if you prefer.
• 750 ml bottle dry Spanish red wine - Such as: Panxut or Essencials 4 Mesos
• Ice to chill - Amount is your preference.
• Soda Water - I sometimes top my sangria with soda water to make it a bit lighter, refreshing, and last longer. Totally optional and should only go in the pitcher right before you serve.

Here's how to put it all together: Cut up the apples and oranges and remove seeds. Then add the brown sugar and fruit into a large pitcher and muddle a bit with a wooden spoon (but not too much or it will mush your fruit). Add the orange juice and liquor and muddle a bit more with the spoon (WM tip: Start with less liquor and add more when you taste it with the wine. You can always add more later!). Next, add red wine and stir to incorporate. Taste & adjust flavour as needed - this is when you can add more sugar, orange juice, or liquor if you're feelin feisty ;). If you have time it's best to chill the mix over night, but a few hours will be sufficient if you're making it in a rush.

Before serving:

• Stir
• Garnish with fresh orange slice.
• Serve as is or with ice. Whatever you prefer
• Add soda water if desired. 

Oh, and we'll just leave this here in case you don't feel like doing any of that work...

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