08/18/05 Sangria

Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran and you know there are so many wine based beverages that get a bad rap because they are misunderstood. I think Sangria is one of those beverages. So on today's program I'm going to attempt to change your impression of what Sangria is all about. Sangria comes from Spain. There it's a refreshing and very popular drink. It's typically a mixture of red wine, brandy and fresh fruit, served over ice. But I'm sure that most of you think of it as a lousy wine punch. But that's because we have had a propensity for taking the basics of a recipe and making our own version. In the case of Sangria we made a fatal error by selecting low quality wine as the base. Sangria should be all about a wine that you like  after all you do plan to drink it. So let me give you a good Sangria recipe. Begin with a good quality red wine  a Spanish Rioja if you want to be authentic- and chill it overnight. When you are ready to make your Sangria; combine the chilled wine with a shot of fresh lime juice and two shots of good quality brandy or rum. Add some sliced fresh oranges and limes along with pineapple chunks, sliced grapes, whatever fruit looks or sounds good to you! Mix it up and pour it over ice. If you like - there is the option of adding a little club soda to liven it up. You can also make Sangria with sweet or dry white wine; for an entirely different style. With summer comes the need for new and fun outdoor beverages so do me a favor and give Sangria another chance. And thanks for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.