I wanted the first sangria recipe featured on Sangrialicious to be a take on a traditional Spanish red sangria. I was thinking Spanish red wine, citrus and brandy – though I didn’t have a specific sangria recipe in mind.
When I began shopping for sangria ingredients and spied the blood oranges, I suddenly remembered that this weekend we’d be having a lunar eclipse – the “Super Blood Wolf Moon!” A theme started to come together in my mind. A red wine sangria would be the perfect potion to raise in our glasses as we toasted this celestial event.
Gathering the Sangria Ingredients
I grabbed a package of those beautiful blood oranges, with a vision in mind of how a slice of the red-centered citrus might be analogous to the crimson moon I’d seen in images of what the eclipse might look like. I grabbed some Meyer lemons, a nod to the un-eclipsed full yellow moon. And I grabbed a package of blackberries to represent the dark night sky.
Already I was entering the sangria zone – where just imagining how it all might come together moves to the forefront of my mind, pushing away the usual stress points that might otherwise occupy my thoughts.
Next, I needed wine. I had my heart set on a Spanish red, and the selection at my local Fresh Market did not disappoint. When it comes to selecting wine for sangria, I try to be careful not to choose one that’s going to make so bold a statement that the fruit flavors in the sangria don’t come through. This is good because those wines tend to be a price point higher than I’m looking to spend anyway.
I decided on a Borsao Garnacha 2016, which was priced under $10, just the budget I was aiming for. But you could use whichever wine you prefer.
Making Your Sangria
At home, I assembled the ingredients. I decided to use two oranges, one lemon and the full package of blackberries. The fruit was just as lovely as I’d imagined – the citrus slicing into perfect circles, the blackberries, luscious and shiny. The oranges and lemons both had seeds, but they were easy enough to remove, and all the fruit was in the pitcher within a matter of minutes.
Next, I added ¼ cup of sugar, ½ cup of brandy and then poured in the wine. After a gentle stir, it goes straight to the fridge, where the sangria would sit for at least 4-to-6 hours. You could leave it overnight if you wanted, which makes sangria a perfect make-ahead party drink.
When you’re ready to serve, pour in about 1 cup of ginger ale. Alternately, you could use club soda or lemon-lime soda. Pour over ice, garnish with a small sprig of rosemary – and make a toast to that gorgeous Super Blood Wolf Moon!
PrintSuper Blood Wolf Moon Red Wine Sangria
This take on a traditional Spanish red wine sangria pairs perfectly with bright yellow moons, lunar eclipses or any occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 to 6 hours
- Total Time: 7 hours
- Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
2 medium size blood oranges
1 Meyer lemon
1 (6-ounce) package of fresh blackberries
¼ cup sugar
½ cup brandy
1 (750-ml) bottle of red wine
1 cup ginger ale
Sprig of rosemary
Instructions
1. Thoroughly rinse and slice oranges and lemons. Rinse blackberries.
2. Put fruit in pitcher.
3. Add sugar, brandy and wine.
4. Gently stir. Then refrigerate 4-6 hours.
5. Add ginger ale.
6. Serve over ice. Garnish with rosemary.
Notes
We used Borsao Garnacha from 2016, but you could use any red wine that suits you.
Nellie says
Looks soo good! Can’t wait to try this!
★★★★★