For years now a staple to my summertime diet has been to have a glass or two of sangria while sitting out on my patio on those warm summer evenings with friends. Sangria is a wine based punch that originates from Portugal and Spain. The word sangria is derived from the Spanish word “sangre” which means blood. Sangria is usually made from red wine, sliced citrus fruit, sugar, and a sprit such as brandy or triple sec.
A lot of tourists flock to Spain and Portugal to get a taste of authentic sangria. What many people dont realise is that in this part of the world sangria is predominately served out of a punch bowl at informal gathers with the express purpose of being inexpensive and easy to become intoxicated from. Bars and restaurants have realised the profit potential in serving sangria to tourists which is where the one litre pitchers of sangria have come from.
The recipes for what makes good sangria are almost limitless. Some people rather use white or sparkling wine instead of red, making what is known as a sangria blanca, a sangria that is much lighter in body. The type of spirit added can also vary; some people prefer to use a triple sec...