If your idea of sun-soaked days on Ibiza is a jug of sangría, then you have come to the right place.
Even if holidays are now a distant memory, it doesn't mean you can't bring the spirit of Ibiza to your home. What better way to do it than with a chilled glass of one of Spain's most iconic summer beverages?
Sangria, meaning “bleeding” as in blood, takes its name from the deep red colour of the drink, which the main ingredient red wine gives it. Lighter coloured versions are made with cava or dry white wine.
You can use any one of those three different types of wine and get great results with this recipe.
Salud!
How to make Julian's sangría
- Choose a quality red, sparkling or white wine - the results are worth it
- Use fresh fruit such as apple, pear, peach, orange and lemon - never used tinned fruit as it will turn mushy
- Once you've mixed all the ingredients together, set the mixture aside for a minimum of two hours
- You can add sugar - though you should get enought sweetness from the fresh fruit
- If you want some extra zing, pep the sangria up with brandy
- Only use ice in glasses or a serving jug to pour it over just before serving - a watered down sangría is no longer a sangría
Method
It could not be simpler: all you need do is assemble all the ingredients and mix them together in a large bowl or saucepan, following these three simple steps.
- 1) Add the chopped or sliced fruit and cinnamon stick (if using) first, then the sugar (if required) followed by the wine and orange juice or fizzy drink.
- 2) For anything with bubbles, pour it slowly against the side of the receptacle you are using, so it won't fizz up.
- 3) Give it all a gentle stir and leave it to rest for a minimum of two hours or longer and when ready serve over ice.
Ingredients
Red wine, cava or white wine sangría
- 1 peach chopped
- 1 apple chopped
- 1 pear chopped
- A stick of cinnamon (red wine version only)
- An orange and a lemon sliced
- Sugar to taste - if you don't have a sweet tooth, omit
- 1 litre of red wine, dry white wine or a 75 ml bottle of cava
- 25-50ml of brandy (optional) - or more if you like, though go easy as it you don't want it to overpower the taste of the sangría
- Juice of 6 oranges or a half litre of orangeade or fizzy lemon (Fanta is great), or lemonade - reduce these quantities by a third if using a standard-sized bottle of cava
