Now that we are into the fall season, I still long for the warmth and sunshine of the summer. So, in honor of the end of the sunny season, let’s talk about that magical wine mixture…Sangria!

Sangria is an interesting combination of wine, fruit and brandy. But, it can be many different combinations depending on your taste. Since it has Spanish origins, it’s traditionally made with Spanish grapes from the Rioja region…Tempranillo for example. But over the years, it has blossomed into more than just a red wine based drink. Many “new” Sangrias are made with white wine, rosé wine, and sparkling wine. The variety of fruit to add is endless so you can make your own creation…the choice is all yours. I’ll include a traditional recipe at the end of the blog so you can be inventive with your version.

The history of Sangria is a long and interesting one. The Spanish version began with adding sugar, spices, herbs, etc. to wine to make it safe and drinkable. This was in the early 700’s…pretty incredible! It fell out of favor but returned to Spain in the 1400’s with a more traditional combination that included fruit.

The Americanized Sangria became popular during the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City. It started a craze for the easy drinking, fruity, light drink we now know as Sangria. It was very much in vogue to drink Sangria. All the stylish establishments were serving it to their chic, upscale patrons.

Whether you choose a red, white, pink, or sparkling Sangria, they are all wonderful to have on a summer (or spring or fall) day with friends. Sangria is usually made by the pitcher or in a beverage dispenser with a tap (shown from potterybarn.com). You can drink it in a wine glass or tumbler with a STRAW! Imagine, drinking a wine beverage with a straw!

Now that we are excited about trying a Sangria, let’s see what we can pair with it.

Since Sangria is a traditionally Spanish beverage, I think it pairs really well with tapas. Plus, tapas are an easy and fun thing to share with friends…it is totally made for it! So, choose some small plates with savory and spicy snacks and appetizers such as olives, breads, meats, cheeses, meatballs, avocados, peppers. Sort of a Spanish style charcuterie board. 

Cheese pairings depend on the type of Sangria you are having. For example, a red wine Sangria would pair well with something a bit spicy like Pepper Jack while a white wine Sangria would pair nicely with Brie. Experiment and see what you like.

So, what’s in the traditional red wine Sangria? There are many versions of this but essentially it includes the following components. Feel free to experiment with different fruits and combinations…these are literally endless!

Traditional Spanish Sangria:

  • Start with a nice Spanish red wine such as Tempranillo or Garnacha
  • Fruit: Citrus fruits (orange, lemon), apples, peaches
  • Spice: Cinnamon stick
  • Sugar: Simple syrup, brown sugar, or cane sugar (according to taste)
  • Liquor: Spanish brandy or rum
  • Ice (optional)

Recipe:

  1. Squeeze oranges and lemons to make a juice
  2. Slice additional oranges, lemons, apples, peaches, or whatever fruits you want to add
  3. Pour into pitcher of wine
  4. Add juice and fruit
  5. Stir
  6. Add spices, sugar, and liquor
  7. Stir and add ice
  8. Pour into glasses
  9. Enjoy!

That’s all there is to it! Enjoy your end of summer into fall Sangria!

Cheers!