Blueberry Sangria

When blueberries were in season, I bought several pints and set them up in my freezer. Now would be a great time to take them out and make a refreshing pitcher of Blueberry Sangria.

BLUEBERRY SANGRIA

1 bottle of fruity red wine, like Merlot
1 lemon, cut in 1/4 inch slices
1 lime, cut in 1/4 inch slices
1 orange, cut in 1/4 inch slices
1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen
1 cup Stoli Blueberry vodka
1/4 cup sugar
club soda

Pour wine into large pitcher. Add lemon, lime and orange slices and blueberries and stir gently to combine. In separate small pitcher or bowl, combine vodka and sugar and stir until sugar is mostly dissolved. Pour vodka mixture into wine/fruit mixture and stir gently. Chill for several hours or overnight. Serve by pouring wine mixture into individual glasses and topping with 1/4 to 1/2 cup club soda per serving.

Traditional "El Rocio" Sangria

Here is a classic sangria recipe from The Cooking of Spain and Portugal, published in 1969 and part of the Time-Life Books Foods of the World Series. I have been collecting cookbooks from this series for years and just love them - they're so "60s"-ish. This recipe appears in Chapter III, entitled "The Light Touch of Andalusia's Cooks." Here's the editor's description of drinking sangria in Andalusia:

The sun was high the next morning when we reached El Rocio; I was thirstier than I could remember ever having been before. Hundreds of people were already walking and singing and dancing and riding around the little church with the shrine, until the dry earth rose in a dusty cloud over the moving bodies. I walked in the dust until I found a man who was pouring a bottle of light, red wine into a blue and green ceramic pitcher, and I waited while he washed some oranges, sliced them into the wine and then added slices of lemon, a bit of sugar, a long splash of brandy, and finally a small bottle of soda water and some ice. He mixed it hard with a wooden spoon, crushing some of the fruit, and then he gave me a glassful. . . . [T]he plain sangria I drank at El Rocio is the best I have tasted. It was our staple liquid for the next six hot days.

Sounds so romantic! Now, here's the recipe:

TRADITIONAL "EL ROCIO" SANGRIA

Sangria - Red Wine and Fruit Punch

1/2 lemon, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 orange, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 large apple, cut in half lengthwise, cored, and cut into thin wedges
1/4 to 1/2 cup superfine sugar
1 bottle dry red wine, preferably imported Spanish wine
2 ounces (1/4 cup) brandy
club soda, chilled
ice cubes (optional)

Combine the lemon, orange, apple and 1/4 cup sugar in a large pitcher. Pour in the wine and brandy and stir with a long-handled spoon until well mixed. Taste. If you prefer the sangria sweeter, add up to 1/4 cup more suage.

Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until thoroughly chilled. Just before serving, pour in chilled club soda to taste, adding up to 24 ounces of the soda. Stir again, and serve at once in chilled wine glasses. Or the glasses may be filled with ice cubes before adding the sangria.

Quick & Easy Blood Orange Sangria

The grocery stores are suddenly full of "Italian sodas" - carbonated fruit drinks in exotic flavors like pomegranate and lemon-blueberry. One of my favorites is blood orange and it can be used to make this fast, easy sangria which is perfect for a leisurely brunch. Because you make only one serving at a time, nothing should go to waste. For those who prefer a slightly alcoholic drink, less wine can be used. For a non-alcoholic drink, the blood orange soda is tasty on its own.

QUICK AND EASY BLOOD ORANGE SANGRIA

1 bottle blood orange Italian soda
1 bottle chardonnay

In a glass, mix one part soda to one part chardonnay. Proportions can be adjusted to taste. Float a slice of blood orange in the drink for garnish.

Honey & Lime Sangria

I have lots and lots of key limes ripening in my backyard right now. So here is a refreshing citrus-y Honey & Lime Sangria in which to use them.

HONEY & LIME SANGRIA

1 bottle dry white wine
2 large limes or 6-8 small key limes, sliced
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 cup triple sec liquor
club soda

Place lime slices in bottom of large pitcher. Mix honey and triple sec in measuring cup until well-combined. Pour over limes. Add entire bottle of wine and refrigerate for several hours to overnight. Pour into glasses to serve and top off with 1/4 to 1/2 cup club soda in each glass. Float a lime slice on top as garnish.