Normally, red wine and hot weather do not mix well. But this refreshing and bubbly concoction of red wine, fresh fruit, and ginger ale make this summer sangria an warm weather entertaining essential.
Summer Sangria
- 1 bottle red wine (I prefer to use red blends or meritages)
- 1/4 cup brandy or rum
- 2 12 oz cans ginger ale (Use diet ginger ale to cut out extra calories)
- 2 tblsp Sugar
- 1/2 apple (thinly sliced)
- 1 orange (thinly sliced, rind still on)
- 1 cup pineapple (chopped into large bite size pieces)
- 1 cup blackberries
- In a large pitcher, combine the red wine, brandy, and ginger ale.
- Add the sugar to the wine and stir til thoroughly mixed.
- Add the prepared fruit** to the pitcher. Stir well. Refrigerate the sangria for at least 12 hours but preferably overnight.
- Serve over ice and use the sangria-soaked fruit as garnish.
*I have found this sangria tastes best when it refrigerates overnight.
**I highly suggest you use “hard” fruit for the sangria. Softer fruit like peaches, plums, strawberries, and raspberries tend to get too mushy and slimy when they sit in the sangria overnight.
***Buy this oversized vintage style drink dispenser here.