Refreshing Red Sangria

A delicious, refreshing and easy cocktail for a warm summer afternoon is a colourful pitcher of red Sangria, typically made with red wine, triple sec, fresh seasonal fruit and a touch of citrus flavoured soda or bubbly water. The word Sangria comes from the Spanish word sangre, which means blood, which is an appropriate name considering its colour. We generally use a tasty but inexpensive medium-bodied wine such as Rioja, Merlot or Zinfandel and an orange flavoured liquor such as Triple Sec, Grand Marnier or Cointreau. For fruit, I generally use the fruit of the season — raspberries, oranges, strawberries or blackberries. There's no way you can go wrong! Sangria is great for parties, because you can mix up a few pitchers and be done. So grab a bottle of wine, a few friends and whatever fruit you have on hand, and enjoy!  


Red Sangria
Makes 1 pitcher

1 orange, sliced thin, for garnish
2 cups of mixed fruit: raspberries, oranges, strawberries, blackberries etc.
1 bottle red wine (Rioja, Merlot or Zinfandel)
1/2 cup Triple Sec
1/2 cup ginger ale, club soda or 7-up

Add the wine, triple sec and sliced fruit into a pitcher. Cover and let marinate for an hour or so in the fridge. The longer it sits, the more intense the flavour! Stir before serving to redistribute the fruit, then add the soda and ice cubes. Serve in wine glasses, over ice with a spoonful of the marinated mixed fruit and a garnish of sliced orange. Chin-chin!