Fall Sangria

This post is going to be short but sweet! Thanksgiving is only days away. Soon most of us will be gathering with family and friends to enjoy good food and great company. It’s an awesome weekend that can also be very busy. There are so many things to think about and lots of food to prepare. So when it comes to cocktails, I’m keeping it simple. I found a great recipe for a Fall Sangria on Pinterest a couple of weeks ago. It’s a little different than the Sangria recipes I shared this summer. It has the taste of fall with apple cider, bourbon and cinnamon. I made it for a party that I was having and it was amazing so I shared the original link on my Facebook page. I decided to share it here on the blog too in case you missed it. It’s perfect because it can be made in a large batch ahead of time and most people like it. So easy! Oh and if you want to jazz it up a bit for the holidays, just dress up the glasses like I did with cinnamon sticks tied with lemon and orange peels. All you need is a lemon zester. A simple trick that makes a huge difference!

Fall Sangria

Author: Leslie Reese

[url href="http://www.nerve.com/advice/drink-this-cocktail-fall-sangria" target="_blank"]Adapted from the recipe by Alicia from Tuffet[/url]

Ingredients

• 2 oranges, cut into small pieces
• 1 lemon, cut into small pieces
• 2 apples, cut into small pieces
• 1-2 cup bourbon
• ½ cup triple sec
• ¼ cup simple syrup
• 2-3 cinnamon sticks
• 2 bottles Sauvignon Blanc
• 3 cups apple cider

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients except the wine and apple cider in a container and allow to marinate at least a day.
2. A few hours before serving, combine mixture with 2 bottles of Sauvignon Blanc and 3 cups apple cider in a punch bowl or larger container and adjust to taste.
3. Garnish with chopped apples, cinnamon sticks or citrus peels (optional)
4. Makes enough for a small party or a medium-sized punch bowl.

Notes

*the original recipe includes 3-4 teaspoons of hot sauce which I omitted. Feel free to add that if you want the extra kick!

3.1.09

Cheers!

Leslie xo

Sangria

During the summer months when the days are long, the weather is hot and people are getting together for outdoor parties and celebrations, Sangria is often on the menu. Sangria is a simple combination of wine, brandy, fresh fruit, and some sort of sweetener. To me, Sangria is a fun way to serve a glass of wine. It's something you can prepare ahead of time and since you serve it in a pitcher or a drink container, guests can easily help themselves. It's a great option if you don't want to be tending bar during a simple party. 

This summer has been very busy for us so Sangria was a great beverage to put on our Happy Hour menu, especially at the beach! I made three different versions this year; red, white and rose so there was something for everyone. The recipes are simple and can be altered in any way to suit your taste. I used fresh, seasonal fruit for the best flavor and I used inexpensive wine because this is one time when it won't matter! That's the beauty of Sangria! So use these recipes as a "guide" as you create your own version of Sangria for your next gathering. And remember, you can make Sangria all year. Just changing up the fruit gives you so many delicious options!

Cheers! xo

This recipe for Red Sangria uses 2 bottles of wine and is great for a larger serving vessel. If you just want enough for a smaller pitcher you can easily cut back on the wine and other ingredients.

Red Sangria

Recipe

Ingredients

1 orange sliced

1 apple sliced

1 lemon sliced

1 lime sliced

1 cup orange juice (fresh squeezed is best)

1 cup brandy

1 cup lemon club soda or seltzer

2 bottles red wine

Method

Pour brandy and orange juice over fruit in a large pitcher or serving container. Add wine and club soda or seltzer. Serve cold.

This recipe for White Sangria doesn't have brandy in it. I wanted this version to be simple and light with a hint of fruit so the only extra ingredient is club soda.

White Sangria

Recipe

Ingredients

1 sliced peach

1 sliced mango

1 sliced red apple

1 sliced Granny Smith apple

1 plum

1 sliced pear

1 cup lemon club soda

2 bottles of white wine

Method

In a large pitcher or serving container combine fruit, club soda and wine. Serve cold.

Rose Sangria

Recipe

Ingredients

2 cups fresh strawberries sliced

2 cups fresh blackberries

1 lemon sliced

1 cup fresh pineapple cut into chunks

1 cup brandy

1 cup lemon club soda or seltzer

2 bottles rose wine

Method

Pour brandy over fruit in a large pitcher or serving container. Add wine and club soda. Serve cold.

*Notes

~ Feel free to chop your fruit into smaller pieces if you would like to add it to the glasses for serving. I used larger slices of fruit in these recipes because I liked how it looked in a larger container.

~ If you have time it's a great idea to soak the fruit in the brandy and/or wine mixture before you serve it. The flavor gets better as things marinate. You can marinate the fruit for a couple of hours or overnight. Then add the club soda just before serving.

~ You will notice I don't add sugar to my Sangria. I don't think it's necessary but if you want to sweeten yours up you can add 1/2 cup or so of sugar to any of the recipes.

 

Photos by Leslie Reese and Tara D'Aloisio