Summer sangria

Sangria first gained popularity at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Exhibited in the Spanish Pavilion, this popular Spanish punch introduced a bright summer beverage to summer garden parties. A cool beverage to combat the heat of a hot summer day. Never considered a serious beverage, it was just a fun drink combining wine, fruit, orange juice and sparkling water to create an enjoyable, reduced- alcohol beverage.

Sangria was not, in fact, a new concept. As far back as the Romans, spices and herbs had been added to table wine in order to make it more palatable to the masses. Throughout the Middle Ages it was common (especially in the winter months) to heat wine with spices imported from the East—a precursor to the “glugg” wine that is so popular at Wassail and Christmas festivities. A Spanish punch mixing claret (Bordeaux) wine with brandy and fruit also found favour at the English soireés of the 17th and 18th centuries.

(Jane Austin made “Claret Cup Punch” the drink of choice for her heroines.)

Water was suspect, and unsafe to drink, after the fall of the Roman Empire.

Endemic diseases that afflicted many parts of Europe up to the end of the 18th century were caused by unsafe water. So, for Mediterranean countries, wine became the “go to” beverage; while beer and small ale served the same purpose in northern Europe. Many communities (mostly First Nations) in Canada still suffer water-borne disease. (I wonder if residents of Toronto or Ottawa would put up with boil water advisories so common to these communities?)

Back to sangria. In Spain, each region offers its own version—as does each restaurant. When you construct sangria for your own enjoyment, you become part of a continuing tradition that dates back to the time when the Romans first planted vines in what is now Spain.

My favourite sangria is a blend of red wine, fruit and one ounce of Grand Marnier per bottle of wine. Allow the mixture to chill overnight in a fridge. Depending on the occasion, add ice cubes and one litre of sparkling water (or a bottle of sparkling wine). Served chilled in wide wine glasses.

Settle back and enjoy the summer evenings.