Sangria recipe: Our favourite drink to savour in the sunshine

Red Wine Sangria Recipe

Serves six to eight people

Prepare two hours before you plan to pour

To make:

• 1 bottle of Spanish red wine. We’d recommend the Suela Roja for its deliciously juicy palate of ripe red berries, black cherry and plum.
• 120ml of Spanish brandy
• 120ml of orange juice
• 1 apple
• 1 large orange
• 1 lemon
• 1 lime
• 1 tbsp of brown sugar
• Lots of ice

To serve:

• Your fanciest glass jug
• Stemless wine glasses
• Straws (optional, of course, but it’s a good way of stopping chunks of ice hitting your nose as you go to sip)

How to make red wine sangria

1) Chop it and chuck it in

Take your fruit and chop it into small chunks that’ll sit nicely at the bottom of your jug. To get everything in there comfortably, it’s best to cut your apple into small pieces, your lemon and lime into segments, and to slice your large orange then cut each slice into quarters.

Grab the glass jug you plan on serving your sangria in and chuck all that fruity goodness in.

The next step is key if you like the idea of adding a little extra depth and sweetness to your summer drink. Add one tablespoon (or three teaspoons) of brown sugar to your jug (maple syrup and honey also work if you’re out of sugar), then take a wooden spoon and muddle it all together.

2) Slosh and stir

Grab all your liquids and get ready to make a splash! First up, take your orange juice and pour in around 120ml, then do the same with your chosen brandy. Muddle together with the fruit once again.

Open your Spanish red and slosh the whole bottle into the jug, before giving it all another good stir. The reason we love using a Spanish brandy as well as a Spanish red wine for this delicious drink is that the flavours are likely to complement each other very well, plus it gives your thirsty guests a more authentic sangria experience.

Tempranillo-based wines from regions such as Rioja, Murcia or Valencia are adored for their rich red fruit flavours of plum and cherry that work in harmony with complex hints of cedar and vanilla. It’s that balance of juicy fruit and sweet spice that makes it so magical in red wine cocktails such as sangria.

The final ingredient is ice, and lots of it if it’s an especially hot day. Take your ice from the freezer, dunk it straight into the jug and stir. Our simple rule for maximum enjoyment is this – the hotter the weather, the cooler you’ll want your drink!

3) Chill before cheers

Before diving right in and quenching your thirst, it’s best to resist and rest your sangria for a couple of hours in the fridge before serving. This will allow all those lovely flavours to combine and mix together beautifully.

Finally, have those glasses at the ready and prepare to serve. All you need now is good weather and great company. Enjoy!