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When I lived in Montana, “preserving” meant canning, freezing, or pickling fruits and vegetables during the summer for use when sunshine was a fleeting memory, footwear consisted of boots or snowshoes, and fresh was the behavior of the local boys towards females of any age, whether comely or coyote ugly.  Here in the desert, we persevere rather than preserve in the traditional sense.  But although summer lasts at least six months, and often more, we do try to capture the best elements of “summer” for those few months when shorts are traded for long pants and polo shirts are covered by sweaters rather than a layer of sweat.  So when I learned this week’s Sunday Supper Crew was about sharing ideas for “preserving summer,” I decided to reveal my recommendation for enjoying summer throughout the year.

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Sangria epitomizes the exceptional aspects of summer.  It emphasizes fruits, has enough alcohol to give one a pleasant glow, and is served cold to refresh one regardless of the temperature.  Plus it is bipolar:  it can go red or white to suit the season.  And, like an ingénue with a first class plastic surgeon, a little aging is advantageous, thus making it a versatile beverage that can be made ahead and enjoyed later after the guests have departed.  In California, we have the requisite fruits available throughout the year.  For those in more extreme climates, if fresh apples, oranges, lemons, limes, and peaches are not available from domestic or international sources, you can use the fruits you “preserved” during the summer or the “fresh frozen” or juice versions found in your local market.  Since red wine, white wine, and port or brandy are ubiquitous, you can easily replicate this summer refreshment at anytime and anywhere.

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5.0 from 6 reviews
Sangria
 
Author:
Recipe type: Cocktail
Ingredients
  • 10 sliced strawberries
  • 20 halved white grapes
  • 2 diced white peaches
  • 3 sliced lemon kiss plums
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • ½ cup apple brandy
  • ¼ cup vodka (Grey Goose L'Orange)
  • 1 bottle dry white Spanish wine
  • mint for garnish
Instructions
  1. Place fruit in large pitcher. Add two tablespoons sugar and stir. Pour apple brandy, vodka and bottle of white wine over the fruit and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours and maximum 4 days.
  2. To serve:
  3. Place ice in a glass, add some of the macerated fruit from Sangria, pour Sangria over ice/fruit in glass.

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WRITTEN BY

Christy Majors

Food enthusiast, wine aficionado, BBC Food fanatic, and cookbook bibliomaniac, who suffers from an incurable case of culinary wanderlust. Artist in progress. Creator of Tout va bien! (TM) where experiences in food, travel and wine are broken down for the home cook and traveler. Banker by day.
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57 Comments

  1. I always think of sangria in the summer and now I will have to sip on one (or two) during the winter to liven it up and remember the beautiful season and fruit.

  2. I love my sangria filled with fruit…just like yours! Boy would I like a 6 month long summer! I know yours can be brutal, but I’d rather sweat than freeze 🙂

  3. A wonderful way to preserve and savor summer’s bounty! Wish I could still get white peaches in S.C., but they are an early variety here. LOVE ‘EM! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
    Roz

  4. Sangria screams summer, but it’s so sunny and refreshing I think it would make a wonderful “dreaming of summer” drink in the depths of winter. I love your fortified version, Christy!

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