There is just something about unwinding with a refreshing cocktail in the hot summer months. Whether you are soaking up the sun while enjoying a good book or making a splash in the pool, the best way to cool off is with sangria. Sangria is a light and refreshing cocktail that typically includes a wine base, fresh fruit, and a mix of juices to create a drink so tasty you’ll forget it has alcohol. Sangria can be made with red or white wine. This creative cocktail is great for those who don’t consider themselves wine drinkers. When you’re looking for your next favorite summer cocktail, consider the classic yet versatile sangria.

Sangria History

It is believed that the concept of sangria originated more than 2,000 years ago when the Romans were expanding their reach and planting vineyards along the way. Water wasn’t safe to drink at the time, so it was often fortified with wine, spices, and herbs. The earliest version we are most familiar with was made in England and France in the 1800s. In the United States, sangria was popularized after its formal arrival at the 1965 World’s Fair in New York. Sangria is often associated with Spain but tends to be a more popular drink for tourists than natives.

Selecting Your Wine

The best part about making sangria is that the possibilities are truly endless. You’ll want to start by selecting your wine. A bold, fruity, dry wine is ideal, as is a crisp white wine. Since you can add numerous ingredients to a sangria, you can choose any affordable bottle of wine. Your wine selection should make up the bulk of your sangria.

Add Liquor

Many sangria recipes call for adding a bit of liquor to enhance the flavor. If you are working with red wine, brandy or rum will pair well with the flavor profiles of the wine. If you are working with white wine, a silver rum can work well, as can vodka. You should have one-part liquor to 2-3 parts of wine, depending on how strong you want your sangria to be.

Sweetener

Sangria cocktails tend to be on the sweeter side. This is achieved through the addition of fruit, as well as a sweetener. This could be brown sugar, cane sugar, or simple syrup. All you need to make simple syrup is equal parts sugar and hot water. This simple solution is a great additive to sangria, mojitos, and flavored margaritas. If you want to keep the sugar amount low, you can substitute agave nectar. You can also add citrus soda and other mixers to balance out the liquor and wine.

Fruit

You can’t go wrong when it comes to your fruit selection. Berries such as blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries make a perfect addition to a red wine sangria. Citrus fruit such as oranges and limes, as well as peaches, and grapes work well with white wine. You can even add mint when you want to add another layer of refreshment.

Experiment and Enjoy

There is no wrong way to create a sangria. If you add too much of one ingredient, you can compensate with another. Payless Liquor is a one-stop shop for all your ingredient needs. We can help you create the perfect sangria for your tastes. Stop into our store or use our convenient pickup-order form and we’ll have all you need ready to go.