The term Sangria literally means bleeding in Spanish and is derived from the Hispanic word for blood, which is sangre. Traditionally, Sangria is prepared using red wine, but warm-weather celebrations in Spain have led them to formulate the white wine Sangria version of this fruit and wine concoction. The result is a delicious, cooling and utterly refreshing wine punch that is perfect for any warm summer celebrations like garden weddings and Spanish dinners.
While the usual sangria makes use of red wine, the white wine Sangria mixture makes use of a wide variety of wines including chardonnay white wine mixed with lemon, citrus or orange fruit juices. Basically anything can be explored and used in making your Sangria Blanca, even if it goes beyond tradition, so there will be no fear of making a mistake in preparation.
Preparing White Wine Sangria
The following are basic guidelines to help you prepare a refreshing Sangria Blanca or white wine Sangria beverage that you and your friends and loved ones will surely enjoy during warm summer evenings.
* Use fruits that would complement your white wine. This can include crisp green apples, nectarines, peaches and other tropical fruits. Basic Sangria requires you to slice these fruits into very small pieces then place them all in a pitcher filled with a white wine of choice. Honey and sugar can be added to get that sweet touch. Allow the fruits flavors to disperse through the wine by chilling the mixture in the refrigerator overnight. When serving, top it off with sparkling wine or seltzer to give the mixture a slight hint of carbonation for a truly exciting drink.
* When choosing wines for your white wine sangria, you do not need to be traditional with your selection. You can experiment with your favorite white wines by trying to complement them with your choice of fruits. Examples are gewrztraminer or viognier mixed with ripe peaches or you can try citrus flavors with a pinot gris. You can also make a choice based on color like the pinkish hue that you can derive from a zinfandel.
* Although most white wines can be used, some dry wines can have woody flavors that can overwhelm the delicate flavors of the fruits, so it would be best to try them out first. This is typical of dry white wines like California Chardonnays but you can still experiment with them all and find a perfect combination that would suit your palate.
* You can also be adventurous in your white wine Sangria mixture by trying out non-traditional fruits and mixtures. Examples are using the kiwi fruit which could be an unusual but satisfying tropical treat. You can also add in orange flavored liqueur to give your mixture and extra kick in flavors. Just don’t forget to top it off with seltzers to give it a little fizz.