Colorful and refreshing, nothing is more reminiscent of summer than an icy blend of wine and fruit. And while Spanish sangria is great in its classic form, there are plenty of fun recipes out there that are just as delicious. We’ve rounded up a few that will have you talking at any pool party.
The world date with drunken punches, especially sangria, began with the Romans in 200 BC, where they often used red wines from Spain. Eventually, this trend spread throughout Europe, adding brandy and various fruits to the mix to make it more refreshing and tasty. By the 1700s, the drink was everywhere, including romance novels and important galas.
Today, sangria is popular at brunches and pool parties and is a refreshing alternative to the more common cocktails on hot summer days. And while the boozy concoction is technically meant to be made with red wine (“sangre” is Spanish for “blood”), there are a few other quirky renditions that will change your mind. Not to mention, it’s a fun transition from the usual wine and fruit. From citrus mimosa to tropical pina colada, here are some of the most delicious and fun sangria recipes.
These 10 recipes will make your regular sangria routine a little more fun.
Classic red sangria
We start this list with an authentic recipe that you can’t go wrong with. With ingredients such as apples, oranges, orange juice, lime, brown sugar and brandy (or rum), this drink has a sweet, easy-to-drink quality. Add a bright dry red Spanish wine like tempranillo, garnacha or rioja to the mix with ice and you have the perfect sangria for a hot summer day. Do this ahead of time if you are going to have a party so that the scents come out.
Cucumber Melon Sangria
The only thing more refreshing than sangria on a scorching day is one that brings out cucumber and melon. This recipe calls for sweet white wine, gin, simple syrup, sparkling water, melon, and cucumber slices. Light on the palate, with sweet and tart notes, this recipe is enhanced by the addition of mint leaves and soda. Plus, it’s ridiculously easy to whip up.
Iced Tea Sangria
This recipe combines two classic summer drinks – iced tea and sangria. The list of ingredients includes sweet wine, iced tea, honey, strawberries and peaches. Mango gives the mixture a tropical touch. The best part? It will take you just under a minute to whip it up. And if you’ve always liked Long Island iced teas, this heady concoction is going to be your new favourite.
Pina Colada Sangria
A tiki drink that can also be used as a sangria will take you straight to the tropics! For this, you only need five ingredients: pineapple juice, nutmeg wine, sliced pineapple, maraschino cherries and coconut rum. Feel free to use canned versions if you can’t get your hands on fresh fruit, but always cook ahead for a deeper flavor. This recipe is enough to serve a large company. If you’re short on time, use chilled wine and add plenty of ice in separate glasses instead of a pitcher so the wine isn’t too watery.
Watermelon Sangria
Watermelon is indeed a quintessential summer fruit, so it’s only natural that it’s perfect for a sangria recipe. To make it, you will need watermelon juice, white wine, vodka, triple sec, lime, oranges and blueberries. Be sure to refrigerate it for about four hours before serving. For added zest, add additional fruit just before serving. On hot days, this mixture will keep you on your toes.
White wine Vodka Sangria
This sangria is as amazing as it is delicious. The list of ingredients includes limes, fresh raspberries, kiwi fruit, citrus vodka, raspberry vodka, white wine and soda. You can switch between Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc or Moscato for wine. Sangria is incredibly easy to make, resulting in a light, fruity and slightly tart blend that will shine at any event, whether it’s an elegant evening or a wild pool party.
apple cider sangria
Tart and sweet with hints of spice – we know it’s summer here all year round, but you’ll love the fall flavor in this one. You will need to soak the pears, apples, and lemons in apple whiskey, brandy, and apple cider for a few hours before adding prosecco or sparkling wine to the mixture. You can swap apple whiskey for any whiskey you have at home. Prepare it for intimate gatherings, group dinners, or just when you need a warm hug over a glass of wine.
Strawberry Lemonade Sangria
What is summer without lemonade? This all-time favorite drink gets heady with this simple recipe that calls for nutmeg, vodka, ginger ale, lemonade, fresh strawberries and lemons. Tart and sweet, the resulting mixture will have notes of orange blossom and honeysuckle due to the addition of the wine, and make a great fun punch. Be sure to use a large jug so the ingredients don’t overflow, and let the broth cool until you see a color change as the juice comes out of the strawberries.
mimosa sangria
A classic tart brunch is paired with sweet sangria in this delicious recipe. To do this, you will need to stock up on orange liqueur, champagne and orange slices. Strawberry slices and pineapple chunks add tartness, adding a unique sweet touch to the usual mimosa flavor. All you need to do is add the fruit to the jug before pouring the liquor and alcohol over it all. Your brunches will never be the same again!
Mango Sangria
A great way to make the most of the mango season is to add the creamy sweet fruit to a range of unique recipes. This particular blend appeals to the crowd. It includes raspberries, raspberry liqueur, lemon soda, mango and rose wine. Fruity, sweet and slightly tart, it pairs well with a variety of salads and small appetizers. Plus, this recipe is from Martha Stewart herself, so you can’t go wrong. Take it with you to a brunch or pool party and you’ll be transported straight to the tropics.
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