Sangria must be the easiest cocktail in the world.

I have been working hard all holidays refining the details for you, tirelessly mixing, tasting, sampling and experimenting on your behalf; consulting with eager participants most evenings. Curiously, no hard and fast rules apply after all for this refreshing Spanish wine punch, perfect for hot summer days and nights.

Relatively low in alcohol, it is a welcome refreshment for those drinking to hydrate in the heat while still looking for a kick in their drink. So long as you don’t make it too sweet, sangria is suitable to continue drinking with a meal.

If you are making bucket loads of sangria for a party and are wanting to keep it chilled, use large slow melting ice blocks. Ice cubes will make the sangria too watery. Don’t add the sparkling soft drink until ready to serve.

Sangria needs to be served long and icy cold and you should get lots of comments on the prettiness of the drink.

Five basic elements to sangria:

• Inexpensive red or white wine (I have successfully utilized $2.50 cleanskins)
• Chopped fruit and spices and herbs
• A sweetener, to taste. Many recipes use sugar, I find though that utilizing a sparkling soft drink, lemonade or orange works better, do not use coca cola, the color is wrong.
• A small amount of spirit
• Soda water

Other considerations are:

• Slow melting ice blocks to keep the base chilled
• Attractive jugs up to 2 litres in size
• Large glasses to serve
• Masses of ice for serving
• If making small quantities (2 – 4) litres, refrigerate the base and any soft drink you intend using.

Slow melting ice blocks

Freeze water in a clean, halved milk carton for a square shaped block or use a metal bowl for a round shape. Large decorative metal or plastic moulds are also suitable. If you wish, add fruit such as stoned cherries or grapes or sliced oranges or lemons to the water before freezing. Larger moulds may take up to 24 hours to freeze solid. To release the ice, dip the mould into hot water and invert.

Red Sangria (serves 4)

Sangria means blood or bloody in Spanish, which accounts for the color of this more well known red sangria, delicious and exotic looking.

Ingredients

• 1 bottle red wine
• 1 orange, sliced
• 1 cup brandy
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 lime, sliced
• ½ cup cointreau or similar (optional)
• 2 peaches / plums diced
• 1 litre chilled fizzy orange drink
• 1 litre chilled soda water

Method

• Combine all the ingredients except the soft drinks in a 2 litre jug, cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours or overnight
• When ready to serve, pour 350ml of orange drink and 350 ml of soda into the jug and stir to taste. Add more orange and soda to fill the jug according to taste. Don’t make it too sweet though, it should be dry in taste.
• Spoon some of the bits of fruit into large glasses, pour the sangria ¾ to the top of the glass and fill with ice cubes.
• Serve with spicy sardines or chorizo on squares of toasted bread.

White Sangria (serves 4)

White sangria is more unexpected than the red version and looks cool and inviting to drink. It is a very good low alcoholic alternative to caipirinhas and mojitos.

Ingredients

• 1 bottle white wine or sparkling
• Lemon and lime wedges
• 1 cup white rum
• Pomegranate seeds
• ½ cup cointreau (optional)
• Sliced cucumber
• 1 litre chilled lemonade
• Sprigs of mint
• 1 litre chilled soda water
• Frozen grapes

Method

• Combine all the ingredients except the soft drinks in a 2 litre jug, cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours or overnight
• When ready to serve, pour 350ml of lemonade and 350 ml of soda into the jug and stir to taste. Add more lemonade and soda to fill the jug according to taste. Don’t make it too sweet though, it should be dry in taste.
• Spoon some of the bits of fruit into large glasses, pour the sangria ¾ to the top of the glass and fill with ice cubes. Garnish glasses with mint and frozen grapes.
• Serve with cold cucumber sandwiches

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