When I arrived in Seville, Spain, I had visions of enjoying a lovely glass of Sangria while sitting at an outdoor cafe while lazily watching the world go by. I quickly learned that Spaniards aren’t as enamored by Sangria as I had thought, and that many restaurants peddle overprices glasses to tourists.
Instead, locals in Seville prefer a drink called Tinto de Verano, which is simply red table wine mixed with lemon-lime soda and served in a tall glass over ice. It is very refreshing but differs quite a bit from a good sangria. This is not to say that the Spanish have a disdain for Sangria. On the contrary, it is more often served at home on special occasions.
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Making good sangria takes time to allow the flavor to evolve as the fruit marinates overnight with the spices and wine. The results, when done properly, tastes like summer in a glass. Here’s my recipe for the ultimate glass of red wine Sangria. I suggest using a red wine that is low in tannins, such as a Spanish Tempranillo or Garnacha or a light Merlot.Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed on a lazy afternoon with friends. Saludos!
Here are some additional Spanish recipes that you might enjoy.
Makes 4 – 8 servings
Ultimate Sangria with Red Wine Rum and Brandy
Ultimate Sangria recipe with red wine, brandy, rum, and a touch of cinnamon and clove. The fresh flavors and spices marinate together with fresh fruit and are then combined with lemon-lime soda for a refreshing drink any time of year.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle (750ml) red table wine
- 1 cup (237ml) orange juice
- 1/2 cup (118ml) rum, light or dark
- 1/4 (60ml) cup brandy
- 3 oz (89ml) simple syrup
- 2 sticks cinnamon
- 3 fresh cloves
- 1 apple, seeded and roughly chopped
- 1 orange, cut in rounds
- 1 peach, seeded and roughly chopped
- 4 cups (946ml) lemon-lime flavored soda
Instructions
- Add the cut fruit, wine, spices, rum, orange juice, sugar and brandy to a glass jar.
- Allow the fruit to marinate in the refrigerator for a minimum or 2 hours but ideally over night.
- Add soda (sparkling water will also work)
- Pour the liquid into glasses filled with ice and top off each glass with fruit.
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