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Sangria is the ultimate crowd pleasing punch concoction. A customizable combination of wine, fruit and other spirits that can be simple or complex, made in a hurry or in advance, sweet or more on the citrus side. Sangria can be a little daunting because the options are so limitless. So, here are a few tips to make your sangria the star of your next brunch or gathering.
Pairing Wine and Fruit
Wine pairings can be a complicated process but there are solid and time-tested combinations that are always winners. White wines like chardonnay, moscato and pinot grigo pair well with stone fruits like peaches, plums, and nectarines. But stone fruits aren’t the only options for white wine lovers; also try pineapple, apples or mangos. Red wines like pinot noir, merlot and cabernet sauvignon pair well with berries and citrus. More adventurous red wine drinkers can try adding blood oranges, cherries or grapefruit to their red sangria.
Adding Spirits
Deciding which spirit to add to your sangria often will help steer the course towards sweet or more tart. Citrus universally benefits both types of sangria, so most recipes call for Contrieau or Triple Sec (orange liqueurs) to be added. Red wines often benefit from brandy or cognac, whose strong flavors can stand up to the flavors in red wine. White wines often benefit from elderflower liquor or peach and apricot brandies.
To Fizz or Not to Fizz
Sparkling wine is not off the table when it comes to sangria crafting. Adding cava, prosessco, rose’, champagne, or asti can add bubbles and flavor to your sangria recipe. Treat any of the above sparkling wines like your favorite non-sparkling varieties. Sparkling wine also lets you tailor the tastes to the final sangria from a dry brut to a sweet moscato d’asti. Other ways to add fizz would be to use lemon-lime soda or any other fruit-based soft drink. Grapefruit soda works well in white wine sangrias to echo the flavors of a Paloma. Orange soda can add lift and citrus to a red wine sangria.
Other Flavors to Consider
Herbs have recently started popping up in a few sangria recipes and they are worth noting. Adding fresh herbs can elevate complimentary flavors and add brightness to the overall recipe. Woodsy herbs like thyme and rosemary pair well with red wines. Floral herbs like lavender and mint play well with white wines. Basil and peaches pair remarkably well in white wine sangria. Rosemary and strawberries pair deliciously in red wine sangria. Honey has also become a sweetener in white wine sangrias and as simple syrup it can add a light floral taste to the final sangria.
Sangria is a fantastic use of fresh fruit and wine. It’s the perfect large-batch drink for a gathering or a sip to unwind at the end of the day. It can be a device to try new flavors and combinations or reinforce old favorites. Sangria can be sweet, tart, bubbly and just the way you like it.
