Hot days (and nights) call for cool, refreshing drinks. This sparkling strawberry sangria is the perfect summer drink. While often made with red wine, this sangria recipe starts with white wine, keeping it light and crisp. Since it doesn’t have as high of an alcohol content as straight wine and isn’t quite as sweet as a daiquiri, it’s the type of drink you can enjoy all day long. Serve it at brunch in place of mimosas, as a complement to a barbecue meal, or keep it on hand while sipping poolside. The bright red color makes it especially fun for Memorial Day or 4th of July get-togethers. (You could even add some blueberries instead of oranges to up the red, white & blue!) Light, fruity and effervescent, you’ll want this in your glass all summer long.
Strawberry syrup ingredients:
- 4 cups strawberries (about 2 lbs.), hulled and quartered
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 4 teaspoons lemon juice
Remaining ingredients:
- 1 bottle (750 mL) white wine such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio
- 1 cup strawberries, sliced
- 1 orange, sliced
- 2 cups (or to taste) seltzer water
Directions:
- Prepare strawberry syrup by combining the strawberries, sugar, water and lemon juice in a large saucepan. Heat on high until it comes to a boil, stirring occasionally.
- After the mixture begins to boil, reduce the heat to medium low and cook for 5-8 minutes, until the strawberries have completely broken down.
- Strain strawberry sauce by pressing in a colander set over a bowl in small batches, about ¾ cup at a time, keeping only the liquid syrup for your sangria. Allow syrup to cool.
- Pour bottle of wine into a large (approximately 2 quarts) pitcher.
- Add cooled strawberry syrup, strawberry slices and orange slices to wine.
- Refrigerate mixture for at least an hour, best if left overnight.
- Before serving, add seltzer water.
Makes 8 servings.
Party tip: This sangria is best when it is still a bit bubbly from the seltzer water. If you’re bringing it with you to a party, or know that it will be out for a while, you might prefer to let guests add their own seltzer. This way, it won’t lose its pleasant fizzy quality. A typical ratio to recommend would be 2/3 sangria to 1/3 seltzer when mixing your glass.
Party Tip 2: The strawberry syrup used here is also great over ice cream and/or cake! If you like it thicker, just add a little bit of cornstarch.
