Best Red Wine To Use In Home Made Sangria
On a holiday to Mexico, Spain or Portugal, or possibly even closer to home, most of us have experienced Sangria. It is a hugely popular party drink, and there is no doubt that those of us who make our own Sangria have at least one part of our mind focused backwards upon the first time we tasted it. There is a definite romantic (or at least nostalgic) quality to making Sangria, and this is something that is not even damaged by the fact that the name of the product is an Iberian word meaning “bloody”. It is easy to see how Sangria got this name – its deep red color is a touch reminiscent of our human life force – and for at least some of us we can remember holidays where it was hard to know where the blood in our veins started and the Sangria ended.
Sangria’s strength really depends on how you make it. If you just want a simple punch that anyone can drink (as long as they are old enough and not teetotal) then you should stick to a recipe that contains no spirits and nothing carbonated. If you are looking for something with more of a kick, then the preference would be to add a generous splash of Calvados brandy as well as some sparkling water or soft drink that will not corrupt the flavor too much. If you are adding anything sparkling, it is important to ensure that this is done right at the end to avoid it going flat and spoiling the taste and texture of the whole thing. Sangria is after all a party drink above all, and it should be light and/or sparkling. If it tastes and feels heavy, then so will the party.
For a good Sangria, you should be looking for a full-bodied wine. This will develop a lot more in the punchbowl than a lighter wine, and will infuse the fruits that you use, making it a far more interesting drink. Probably the best wine to use in home made Sangria is a Shiraz. The test for what is a good wine to use really is to think about what you would drink with a red meat.
Argentinian or Chilean Shiraz are excellent choices, as would be a Grenache from South Africa. Remember that to this wine you will be adding a lot of fruit and probably some sparkling water too, along with a dash of brandy. It is no use using a light-bodied red wine which will become enveloped by the other flavors.
In deciding the best red wine to use in home made Sangria, then, you will need to use a bit of your own initiative – ideally you should be aiming for something you have had before and enjoyed, as even though you are adding things to it it will still form the base of your Sangria and you will therefore still be able to taste it. If short on inspiration then you can always just think back to great Sangria that you have had before.
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