Sangria

Ah, my beloved symphony of sippers and savants, gather round as we embark on a journey to the sun-drenched orchards and vineyards of Iberia. The Sangria, a libation so imbued with the spirit of conviviality, it sings of long afternoons under azure skies, a chorus of fruit and wine that dances upon the palate, a testament to the art of leisure and the joy of shared moments.

Ingredients

• 1 bottle of red wine (750 ml), as robust and spirited as a flamenco dancer’s cry.
• 2 oz (60 ml) brandy, the whisper of oak and time, a secret shared in hushed tones.
• 3 oz (90 ml) orange juice, fresh as the morning dew on a Valencia orange.
• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) sugar, the sweet echo of laughter and the promise of twilight revelry.
• 3 oz (90 ml) soda water, the effervescence of joy, a sparkle in the eye of the beholder.
• Ice, the canvas upon which our masterpiece is cooled and preserved.
• An assortment of citrus slices and diced fruits (oranges, lemons, berries), a mosaic of flavor, each piece a note in our harmonious melody.

Directions

1. In a pitcher that has known the touch of countless celebrations, combine the red wine, brandy, orange juice, and sugar, stirring with the grace of a summer breeze until the sugar has dissolved, a sweet symphony of ingredients coming together in perfect harmony.
2. Add the sliced fruits, the stars of our show, imbuing their essence into the concoction, a medley of tastes and aromas.
3. Refrigerate for at least a few hours, though patience will be rewarded with a deeper amalgamation of flavors, as if the ingredients are learning to dance together.
4. Just before serving, stir in the soda water and ice, awakening the potion from its slumber, ready to dazzle and refresh.
5. Serve in glasses that glisten like the Mediterranean sea under the sun, garnished with a fruit slice, an invitation to indulge in the bounty of the earth.

Tips

• The choice of red wine need not be an odyssey of the expensive; seek a wine that is fruit-forward, young, and ready to mingle with the vibrant cast of ingredients.
• The maceration of the fruit is not merely for aesthetics but is essential to the narrative, infusing the sangria with a bouquet of flavors and stories.
• The addition of soda water is the final act, a flourish that lifts the melody to its crescendo, a reminder to always add a little sparkle to life.

Calories & Alcohol

In our finale, my dear conclave of taste and togetherness, the Sangria is not merely a drink; it is a celebration of life’s simple pleasures, a reminder that joy is found not in the grand gestures but in the shared moments and the flavors that accompany them.

As we bid adieu to this vibrant sojourn, let it be known that this bastion of festivity and fellowship harbors approximately 863 calories per pitcher, with an alcohol content that dances lightly at about 7 standard drinks across the batch (10 AU). A modest homage to the spirits of camaraderie and sun-kissed revelry.