Mixed Berry Sangria

It's National Wine Day!!

It's also national brown bag-it day and towel day but those don't spark the same kind of excitement in me as the words national wine day. 🍷 National Wine Day is the kind of national holiday that I can get behind. 😅  How is it that I've lived in oblivion about wine day for more than 51 years? 

I enjoy wine but I'm in no way a connoisseur of fine wine.  I've been a wine drinker long enough to know what I like and what I don't like though.   I'm partial to dry reds - cabernets mostly - but there are times when I crave something a little sweeter. 

I hope I'm not the only person who's wine preference seems to be directly related to the outside temperatures.  The closer we get to summer and the hotter it gets in Hot-Lanta - the sweeter the wine I crave. 🌞 Buttery, fruity whites and sweet sangrias, mostly.  And when the temperatures drop again in the Fall, I'll be spending more time cuddled up next to the fireplace, craving very dry Merlot and Pinot Noirs. 🪵

We may still be in the month of May, but summer hits early in Georgia.  Well, summer-like temperatures anyway.☀️ And as predicted, I'm already starting to crave sweet, fruity wines.  I've been looking for sweet red sangria for cool relief from the hot afternoon sun, more than ever lately.  

A fusion of red wine, fresh summer fruits and sweet liquor is the recipe for a perfect summertime cocktail. (Someone please tell me if sangria is considered wine or a cocktail?😅)  This mixed berry sangria tastes like all the best parts of summer in one glass.  Just remember to start it early because it's best to put let the berries soak in the wine overnight so that all of flavor of the fruits get infused into the juice.   

Mixed Berry Sangria
1 cup raspberries
1 cup blueberries
1 cup strawberries
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 bottle (750 ml) red wine
2 ounces Grand Marnier

Process half of the berries and sugar in food processor.  

Whisk wine into mashed berry mixture.  Refrigerate 4-24 hours.

Cut remaining berries in half and add to pitcher.  Add Grand Marnier. 

Strain refrigerated berry mixture, extracting as much juice as possible. 

Pour strained mixture into pitcher with berries and stir to combine.  

Cheers to national wine day!  

​Ciao!

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