Traditional Sangria (AllRecipes version)

Ingredients (mix all together):

1/2 cup Brandy

1/4 cup Lemon Juice

1/3 cup Frozen Lemonade Concentrate

1/3 cup Orange Juice

750mL (1 bottle usually) of Dry Red Wine

1/2 cup Triple Sec

(OPTIONAL) 1/4 cup white sugar

Add sliced 1 lemon, 1 lime, 1 orange, 1 apple, 1 strawberry

(OPTIONAL) for carbonation, add 2 cups of chilled club soda (ONLY AT THE END WHEN ABOUT TO SERVE)

Skill Level:

Intermediate

Flavor Profile:

Sweet, fruity

History:

"What many people don’t realize is that Sangria is just a variation of a wine based punch that’s been served across the whole of Europe for centuries. As far back as the middle ages, men and women could be found drinking a wine-based cocktail known as Hippocras which was a homemade wine infused with cinnamon, ginger, pepper and other spices popular in the era. Aside from adding flavor to a fairly rudimentary wine, the reason for additional spice was so the punch could be altered based on the time of day, the meal served or the individual’s palate. Since water wasn’t safe to consume and milk was strictly considered a beverage for infants, Hippocras became the internationally popular drink, consumed by all once they passed infancy and were around the age of two or three. It wasn’t a matter of wanting to intoxicate the youth, but it was simply due to the fact that alcohol was the only safe beverage of the time, since the alcohol would kill off much of the bacteria found in other liquids. This was yet another reason for giving the wine an enhanced flavor. Since the wine was often so harsh in those times, in order to encourage toddlers and children to drink it, parents and guardians would add fruits, spices and many other ingredients to the wine the same as we add chocolate syrup to milk or put berries in our breakfast cereal.

Today, Sangria has undergone some new developments. As of January of this year, pre made punches labeled and sold as “Sangria” can only be imported from Spain and Portugal under the European Parliament enacted new wine labeling laws and restrictive regulations. Of course, when it comes to homemade Sangria that isn’t pre made, you can really opt to name it whatever you like since it’s unlikely the Liquor Police will ever come knocking at your door."

- gentlemansgazette.com/sangria-guide