Summer Sangria Recipes

Have you ever wondered just how many variations of sangria there are? Let this blog be your guide.

Basically all sangria has the same base: wine mixed with bold fruity flavors, brandy and ice. There are a lot of way to alter your drink based on which wine base and chopped fruits you include. A sweetener such as honey, sugar, syrup, or orange juice is added, but you can also choose Seltzer, Sprite or 7 Up instead.

There are several categories of fruits to consider: stone fruits (nectarines, peaches, plums), cherries, berries, strawberries, tropical fruits (mangoes, melons, pineapples, kiwis), citrus (orange, lemon, lime). Sangria is chilled anywhere from a few minutes to a few days. This allows the sangria to steep, extracting and infusing the flavors from the chopped fruit. It also softens the fruit and makes for a delicious treat once you reach the end of your drink.

If you’re looking for the something classic, try this recipe traditional Classic Spanish Sangria.

Ingredients
1 lemon
1 lime
1 orange
1 1/2 cups rum
1/2 cup white sugar
1 (750 milliliter) bottle dry red wine
1 cup orange juice

Directions
Have the fruit, rum, wine, and orange juice well chilled. Slice the lemon, lime and orange into thin rounds and place in a large glass pitcher. Pour in the rum and sugar. Chill in refrigerator for 2 hours to develop the flavors.
When ready to serve, crush the fruit lightly with a wooden spoon and stir in the wine and orange juice. Adjust sweetness to taste.

If you want something with a lighter flavor, try this recipe for White Sangria.

Ingredients
2 (750-ml) bottles white wine, chilled
1 cup brandy
2 navel oranges, sliced
1 lemon, sliced
1 lime, sliced
1/4 cup superfine sugar

Directions
Pour the wine and brandy over the fruit and sugar in a large serving bowl. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Stick a ladle in the sangria so people can serve themselves and have a full bucket of ice by the side of the bowl. (Don’t let the ice run out.)

If you want to try an interesting mix from several of the fruit categories, try this recipe for White Cherry, Lime, & Watermelon Sangria.

Ingredients
3 cups watermelon balls (or approx. 3/4-inch chunks)
2 cups bing cherries, halved and pitted
3 limes, thinly sliced
1 lemon, thinly sliced
1 750 ml bottle white wine (a dry-ish white wine is best – I like Sauvignon Blanc)
1/2 cup white rum
4 cups lemon-lime soda

Directions
Add watermelon to a large pitcher, then the cherries, then the limes, then the lemons.
Pour the wine and rum over the top.
Cover and place in the refrigerator for 4 – 5 hours.
Remove from refrigerator and add the lemon lime soda. Add a few pieces of the fruit to your glass along with ice (if desired), and pour sangria over to serve.
Keeps for about 24 hours in the refrigerator; just be sure to add the lemon-lime soda right before serving.

Sangria is a simple formula that allows you to make a wide variety of combinations, and it’s impossible to go wrong! This summer is a great time to start experiencing with this cool, fruity and refreshing drink! Contact Julio’s to learn more about our wine department or come to our location in Westborough, MA to taste some of our 48 wines at our free wine tasting room!