Today I am finally going to a local winery for a tasting tour. I have been wanting to go for about…. Hm…. I want to say six months or so. Why? Because apparently I can only buy a certain wine at that particular winery and I need it like burning.
Let me attempt to explain the logic here. I like sangria. My father’s cousin used to make the best sangria ever, but she passed away before I was old enough to ask for the recipe. Don’t judge me. Anyway, I have tried sangria everywhere it was offered, hoping to find one that was close enough to her recipe, usually to no avail. Once while in Berlin we saw an offering at a biergarten. That alone should have tipped us off, but we went ahead and tried it. It looked like someone had *ahem* upchucked their fruit salad, and tasted just as vile. After that, I tried the bottled sangrias, but usually they are not sweet enough, and the citric acid tends to conflict with the alcohol somewhat.
Bunch of liars…
Fast forward to May 2012. The ladies of our local wine club make plans to go to the Wein and Sangerfest just north of here, and ZOMG!!! I find the best cheap sangria recipe EVAH!!
Texas Style Sangria
- 1 6oz can of frozen orange juice concentrate, plus one can of water
- 1 6oz can of frozen limeade concentrate, plus one can of water
- 1 liter of grapefruit soda
- 1 bottle Dry Comal Creek Foot Pressed Red Wine™
Blend limeade and orange juice concentrates with water. Add the wine, stirring well, then add the grapefruit soda, and stir well again. Freeze until slushy, or serve over ice if you are impatient, like me. Garnish with orange slices, or pass on the fruit if your impatient, like me. Those of you that are sharp-eyed will recognize where I originally posted this recipe.
Anyway, see that last item?? THAT wine is ONLY sold at the winery. Why?? Why can’t they offer it locally in all other stores that carry their brand?? It is a nice table wine, and a less expensive alternative to their Black White Spanish, which is also awesome, by the way. My point is, if you want people to buy your wine and entice them with an awesome cheap recipe, you should make said wine available to the masses. But no…. Now I have to make the sacrifice of an afternoon, and go to a tasting room just so that I can purchase a bottle or five of wine.
It’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make 😉
October 28th, 2012 at 10:52 PM
Another recipe for sangria that works well….
Pour one bottle of a decent quality Cabernet Sauvignon
into a pitcher. Add an equivalent amount (750 ml usually)
of Minute Maid lemonade. Add one cup Apricot Brandy.
Cut up half an orange into pitcher. Cover and let steep
for at least 8 hours. I prefer mine chilled in the frig but
temperature is a personal choice. Will serve well straight or
over ice.
Repeat as needed….or till you pass out.
October 29th, 2012 at 6:56 AM
That sounds really good. Any particular brand of apricot brandy?
October 30th, 2012 at 9:33 AM
What size of bottle of the Dry Comal Creek wine? 1.5 or 750?
Ahhh, memories… Nearly getting washed down the Dry Comal Creek saving my motorcycle from the same fate.
October 30th, 2012 at 9:42 AM
Just the 750ml sizes, Reiuxcat. But I got twelve of them 😀
October 30th, 2012 at 9:42 AM
Twelve DIFFERENT wines, I mean 😀
October 30th, 2012 at 4:31 PM
Wine is Fine but liquor is quicker. 😉
October 30th, 2012 at 5:18 PM
What happened to the candy? 😀
October 30th, 2012 at 10:26 PM
Doesn’t have to be any particular brand….can even be E&J regular brandy or some other type…the brandy being fortified really gives the sangria some “authority”. I use a generic brand of apricot brandy from our local kroger store.
October 31st, 2012 at 8:41 AM
Thanks for the tip!