Video:Tips for Making Sangria

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Transcript:Tips for Making Sangria

Wines to Use for Sangria

Sangria is traditionally served in a clear glass pitcher. This will allow your guests to see the fruit mixed inside, making for a great presentation. The type of wine you select depends mostly on your own personal taste. Choose one of your favorites, red or white. Citrusy wines like Rieslings work well, as do merlots. To keep it traditional, pick a Spanish wine. Or, pick a fruity wine for a sweeter sangria, or a dry wine for a more subdued flavor.

Flavors to Add to Sangria

Adding sugar is a must to give your Sangria a punch-like flavor, although how much you use, if any, depends on the size of your sweet tooth. Common additions can include a splash of orange juice or lemonade. Again, which you use or how much depends on your taste. Just before serving, you'll want to add a good amount of ginger ale for a sweet sangria, or club soda just to add fizz. While you can use a variety of your favorite fruits, every sangria needs three main ingredients: oranges, limes and lemons, sliced. Your objective is to maximize the surface area of the fruit, allowing them to mix together fully. The size and shape of your wedges are up to you—you can slice wedges, halves or full circles. You'll want to squeeze the juice from the wedges into the sangria and then drop each wedge in whole.

How to Serve Sangria

Sangria is often served over ice, especially when you haven't had a chance to chill it before serving. You can choose just about any fruit to add into your sangria, so pick your favorites. The best sangrias are chilled for 24 hours before serving, so for more delicate fruit like peaches and strawberries, wait to add them until just before serving. For an added kick, add a shot or two of fruity hard liquor, like gin, triple sec or brandy. Last but not least, don't forget to add some fruit into the glass, or at least on the rim, for garnish.