How to Make a Sparkling Sangria

Sangria. Just hearing the word brings up memories of picnics on the beach and barbecues in the back yard. Named from the Spanish word for 'bloody' - because of its deep red color - sangria is a delicious wine based punch, served with floating bits of fruit and sometimes combined with a carbonated mixer. Although its real beginnings have long been forgotten, sangria is assumed to have first been created in the Andalusia region of Spain, perhaps as a way to improve upon the flavor of the red wines from the region. It became popular in the US after it's introduction at the 1964 World's Fair in New York. It's also a favorite in Mexico, and is often served in Mexican restaurants. But how to make sangria? It's easier than you might think.

Good sangria uses these basic ingredients: Wine, fruit, and sweetener. Some recipes add for an additional alcoholic ingredient, like triple sec or a brandy. Choose your fruit - oranges, melon, berries, apples, pears - anything goes! Typically red wine is used, although white wine can be used for 'sangria blanca'. The fruit and sweetener are mixed, wine is poured over the mix, and then everything is allowed to chill for a couple of hours. Served over ice, you now have the perfect drink to go with everything from tacos to paella. With this basic ingredient list, there's plenty of room for experimentation to find the tastes you like best. Here then, is one of my favorite sangria recipes.

Sparkling Sangria
(serves 4-6)

1 orange, sliced in rounds
1 lemon, sliced in rounds
1 lime, sliced in rounds
1 apple, cubed
1 pear, cubed
¼ cup white sugar
1 750 ml bottle of red wine (Use Spanish Rioja for authentic flavor)
½ cup of orange juice
¼ cup lime juice
¼ cup blackberry brandy
¼ cup Cointreau (or other triple-sec)
Maraschino cherries
2 cups of club soda (lemon lime soda if you prefer sweeter sangria)
Additional orange slices for garnish (optional)

1) Place all the fruit except cherries in a large bowl. Sprinkle the sugar on top, and let it macerate for 5 minutes.
2) Mix together the red wine, orange juice, lime juice, brandy and Cointreau. Pour over fruit mixture.
3) Let mixture rest covered for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator.
4) Add in club soda just before serving.
5) Serve over ice with chunks of fruit in each glass.
6) Garnish each glass with maraschino cherry and an orange slice (optional)

Source: Jim Raper, Sangria: It's refreshing, now it's legal, The Virginian-Pilot