This blog was written by DiaryOfAJewelleryLover in partnership with Barefoot Wine.
The summer is finally upon us in the UK. I did wonder if it was ever going to arrive, but finally, it's hot and sunny here!
To celebrate the beautiful weather, I held a summer party in the garden with family and friends, well, you have to make the most of life, don't you!?
Planning a summer party is always fun and I am lucky enough to have the most amazing mother-in-law Anne who always helps when we have family get-togethers and makes some fantastic party food. We decided to go for a summer picnic theme with fresh colourful salads, amazing free-range dry cure ham and a selection of delicious bread. Anne has a beautiful garden and the weather was fantastic so we held it there. But what to drink, you may ask?
Summer Sangria Recipe
I decided to make a sangria as it is a fantastic summer drink. This fruity alcoholic concoction always means summer in a glass to me. So what is sangria?
Sangria is a popular Spanish and Portuguese punch traditionally made with red wine, fresh fruit, and often a touch of brandy or other spirit. Originating from Spain, it typically includes ingredients like oranges, lemons, apples, and berries. Sometimes it's mixed with sparkling soda and other times it's just left as it is. It's an easy drink to make and this vibrant, fruity drink is commonly served chilled, making it a favourite at summer gatherings and festive occasions. There are many variations, including white sangria made with white wine, and even sparkling sangria using cava or prosecco.
So I trawled the internet and adapted a version for our summer garden party. My version of the sangria below leaves out the sparking wine or soda and has a fruity alcoholic kick. I also used Cointreau instead of brandy as I love the orange flavour. So here is my version of sangria using red Zinfandel from Barefoot Wine.
350ml of Barefoot Wine Zinfandel
200ml orange juice
200ml Cointreau or brandy
1 apple, washed, cored and chopped
1 orange washed and thinly sliced
1/2 small punnet strawberries, washed, hulled and sliced
1 lemon, washed and thinly sliced
Method
Place the wine, orange juice and Cointreau in a large jug, and add the fruit. Stir it and place it in the fridge to chill.
This drink is best drunk after the fruit has soaked up the alcohol and fruit juice adds to the delicious flavour. Sangria is best served cold, but if you can't wait, it's perfectly fine to drink it straight away.
Why Barefoot Wine?
Barefoot Wine sent me two bottles of their red Zinfandel to make this sangria and, to be honest, although any red wine will do, their red Zinfandel was delicious, and I'm not just saying that. It's a rich smooth red wine with rich berry flavours of raspberries and a cherry richness. This complemented the strawberries and other fruit I added to the sangria perfectly.
The sangria was easy to throw together too and makes a really spectacular summer drink when you have friends and family get-togethers.
The brand, Barefoot Wine, originated in California in 1968 and has been a popular choice of wine worldwide since. They sell a range of white, red, rose and sparkling wine and their wine has won over 10,000 medals for quality over this time. You have probably seen it on the supermarket shelves, as many of the major supermarkets and Off Licences sell it in the UK. You can get it in Tesco, Sainsbury, and Morrisons. Bargain Booze, Spa and One Stop for example. It's a fun wine brand that has affordable delicious options for wine drinkers everywhere.
And the verdict of the sangria? Let's just say the two bottles of red Zinfandel made a lot of sangria that day!
Check out more about Barefoot Wine on the Barefoot Summer Hub.
Of course, always ensure you drink responsibly and don't drink and drive. If you are drinking alcohol, drink plenty of water too. Assign a designated driver and know your limits.