Red, White and Festive Sangria

Picture this: you’ve called your girlfriends over for a girl’s night. You’ve been waiting all week, if not longer, for this night. A time to unwind, let loose and gossip with your closest friends. You’ve planned all the snacks, naturally the most gluttonous – we’re talking ice cream, chocolate and cheese. Your lactose intolerant friend will not be thanking you later. But what should you drink?

OR

Maybe you’re heading over to meet your significant other’s family for the FIRST TIME at their family BBQ (it will be okay, don’t freak out) and you’ve offered to bring something even though they have insisted that your presence will be enough. But you don’t want to be just enough you want to be more than enough; you want to rock their world. But what should you bring?

OR

Maybe you are preparing a huge fam-jam thanksgiving and all the crazy relatives are coming. Really, taking an Ativan would be helpful but you need to stay focused and sharp. You need them to relax and open up. But what do you do?

Insert red, white and festive sangria. The life saviour to all your problems. Of course, you can pair any of these sangria recipes with any of the above situations or any other situations you deem fit for a delicious, fresh glass of sangria. The best part is that you won’t break your bank making these sangrias because they use the cheapest wines and alcohols but taste like sweet, sweet juice. Delicious, but dangerous.

Like I say: it’s always sangria season.

Cheers!
xx Vassilia

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Red Sangria

Ingredients

• 1 bottle of cheap red wine of choice (if you choose a sweeter red wine, reduce the amount of juice to taste)
• 1 cup white rum of choice (I usually use Bacardi White Rum)
• ½ cup of orange liquor of choice (I usually use Grand Marnier, but triple sec would also suffice)
• 2 limes, juiced
• 2 cups pineapple juice (I usually try to avoid juices from concentrate, but for sangria they work well)
• 2 cups orange juice
• 1 ½ cups grapefruit flavoured soda (I use Fresca)
• 2 cups soda water
• 1 250mL bottle of sparkling wine
• 1 orange, sliced
• 1 apple, sliced

Directions

1. The night before, mix all ingredients EXCEPT the sparkling wine in a large airtight container. Let sit over night to allow the fruit to soak.
2. When ready to serve, transfer to a serving jug of choice and top with the sparkling wine.
3. Pour over ice and enjoy – be sure to get some of the fruit in each glass.

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White Sangria

Ingredients

• 1 bottle cheap white wine of choice (avoid overly sweet white wine. I recommend a Pinot Grigio or a Sauvignon Blanc)
• ½ cup vodka of choice (I usually just use Smirnoff Vodka)
• ½ cup of silver tequila of choice (I usually just use Sauza Silver Tequila)
• 2 limes, juiced
• 2 cups peach juice
• ½ cup mango juice or nectar
• 2 cups ginger ale
• 2 cups soda water
• 1 cup strawberries
• ½ cup blueberries
• ¼ cup cubed mango

Directions

1. The night before, mix all ingredients in a large airtight container. Let sit over night to allow the fruit to soak.
2. When ready to serve, transfer to a serving jug of choice.
3. Pour over ice and enjoy – be sure to get some of the fruit in each glass.

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Festive Sangria

Ingredients

• 1 bottle cheap white wine of choice (go for a dry white wine here)
• ½ cup gin of choice
• ½ cup spiced rum of choice
• 1 orange, juiced
• ½ cup cranberry juice
• 3 cups apple cider juice
• 2 cups soda water
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ orange, zested
• 1 apple sliced
• ¼ cup frozen cranberries

Directions

1. The night before, mix all ingredients in a large airtight container. Let sit over night to allow the fruit to soak.
2. When ready to serve, transfer to a serving jug of choice.
3. Pour over ice and enjoy – be sure to get some of the fruit in each glass and garnish with a cinnamon stick (optional).