summer sangria ~~~ drink of the week

If you're a total wino like me, than you most likely adore sangria. Honestly, I've never met anyone who doesn't like sangria. It's the easiest drink to make and does the same work as a regular glass of wine, but is 10x more fun. Summer is the season that sangria is made for and I could probably drink a pitcher every day. 

I like to consider myself a sangria-connoisseur; so I've created 4 amazing summer sangria recipes for your consumption.

*** I tested them out on my guinea pigs (aka my friends) and the ultimate winner was BERRY MANIA, so I highly suggest it.

The best thing about sangria is that the quality of the wine doesn't matter all too much, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FRUIT and this is doubly true with summer sangria, since so many fruits are in season. 

For your summer sangria there's no need to buy a bottle more expensive than $10. 

METHOD

Cut and prepare your fruit.

Prepare your pitcher.

Place fruit in pitcher.

Pour FULL bottle of wine over fruit.

Refrigerate.

Let sit for 1-6 hours, depends how strong you want the fruity taste. 

Add ginger ale.

Add sugar.

Mix with long spoon.

Add ice.

Serve.

CRISP | ideal for a refreshing afternoon drink on the patio

White Wine (Pinot Grigio or Riesling)

Apple (half; cut into small cubes)

Pineapple (a quarter of a full pineapple, cut into small slices)

Mango (half a mango; cut into small pieces)

Blueberries (half a pack)

Raspberries (full pack)

Lemons (half a lemon, cut into thin slices)

Sugar (3 tablespoons)

Ginger Ale (Honestly, I do this by sight, keep pouring until the pitcher's full.)

Variations: If you don't want it to be as sweet as I make mine, substitute sugar for agave and ginger ale for sparkling water. (*This goes for all 4 recipes.)

TROPICO | if you want to channel Caribbean vibes, this is the sangria for you 

Sparkling White Wine

Coconut Water (one 250ml can, with or without coconut pieces)

Pineapple (half a pineapple, cut into thin slices)

Mango (half a mango, cubed)

Lime (1 full lime, cut into slices)

Peach (1, sliced)

Cantaloupe (optional, a quarter of a cantaloupe; cut into small pieces)

Sugar (3 tablespoons)

Ginger Ale

OLD-FASHIONED | a classic, tried but true red wine sangria

Red Wine (Pinot Noir or Merlot)

Strawberries (half a pack, sliced thinly)

Blueberries (half a pack, just toss them in)

Oranges (1, sliced thinly or in wedges)

Lemons (1, sliced thinly or in wedges)

Limes (1, sliced thinly or in wedges)

Sugar (3 tablespoons)

Ginger Ale

BERRY MANIA | tastes like juice, but still gets you drunk, you can't really go wrong

Sparkling Wine

Mint (4 leaves, muddled or shredded to release flavour)

Strawberries (half a pack, thinly sliced)

Raspberries (half a pack, I suggest squishing them to release flavour before tossing them in)

Blackberrries (full pack, I suggest squishing them to release flavour before tossing them in)

Blueberries (half a pack, toss them in)

Sugar (3 tablespoons)

Ginger Ale

There you go, this should hold you for a while, and the best part of sangria is experimenting. If you want an extra kick, add some whiskey or peach schnapps. Just have fun with it, we don't get this kind of weather for very long.

xx kels xx