Summer White Wine Sangria

The best sangria I've ever had was 7 years ago in Barcelona when I took an impromptu trip to Spain with someone I barely knew.

Yep, I went to Spain with a friend of a friend that I'd hung out with in a group setting a few times but we weren't close by any means.  She wanted to go and was looking for a travel companion.  I wanted to go somewhere cool and she seemed nice and fun.  Plus, she's fluent in Spanish, where my skills were somewhere on par with a third grader.  So, we took the plunge and decided that we'd go to Spain, and either realize we hate each other or become close friends.  Luckily it was the latter and we're still great friends to this day.  We had quite an eventful trip, and while I can't cover it all, there are some especially delightful highlights....

Like when I got pickpocketed on a train on like the first day.  A couple of sly little rascals (that is the PG-rated version of how I'd describe them) cornered me on a crowded train and stole my wallet out of my purse before I even know what hit me.  Then I cried and my friend Whitney had to pay for everything for the remainder of the trip until we got home and I could pay her back.  Then, after being robbed, I was almost mauled by a vicious dog named Bertoli at the first hotel we stayed in.  He had me cornered in the lobby, while the owner was screaming, "Don't move!  Don't move!" in Spanish, which of course I couldn't understand.  I almost peed myself.  It would have been sad to be killed by an ugly mutt on the second day.  Luckily, the trip improved tenfold after that, and we had a wonderful time traipsing around the country.  We took an overnight ferry to the island of Minorca and shared a room with a crazy little old lady who never stopped talking.  We danced at a club until the wee hours of the morning and then stumbled around Barcelona for hours, looking for Kentucky Fried Chicken (we never found it).  We ate paella and drank sangria on the beach and learned that although bathing suits are optional, the only people who choose to partake in the nakedness are the ones who need to be covered up the most. 

I have been a lot of places in the world since then, but it remains one of my favorite trips ever.  It was spontaneous and a little crazy but I wouldn't change a thing.  Except that now I know how not to get robbed, and I can very clearly understand "Don't Move!" in Spanish.


Anyway, this sangria isn't quite as good as the stuff you find in Barcelona, but it ain't too shabby.  I usually prefer red sangria, but in the summer we mostly drink white wine, and it was all we happened to have on hand.  I think it was a hit, too, since the pitcher was gone quickly.  You can really use any combination of fruit that you like....whatever is fresh and looks good that day....sangria is not picky.  Enjoy!

Summer White Wine Sangria
Source: inspired by Real Simple

1 bottle crisp white wine, like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio
2 cups club soda
1/2 cup orange liqueur, like Cointreau
1 orange, sliced
1 lemon, sliced
6 strawberries, sliced
1 peach, pitted and sliced

Mix all of the liquids and mix well.  Add the fruit, and let sit for at least an hour before serving.  Serve cold.