Category: wine

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.

Going down to the basics, a white wine becomes dry after the grape undergoes its natural fermentation process and all the sugars in the grape juice are fermented into alcohol. A dry white wine is different from other whites since these other white wines contain additives that prevent the sugar from being converted fully into alcohol, which is why some of these are termed sweet white wines.

There are fully dry and medium-dry white wines, the latter of which contains just enough sugar residues to lessen the degree of dryness but not enough to push it over the limit and into the sweet wine category. Some of these are excellent choices when making white wine sangria and it would be a great trait to learn how to identify a dry white wine with other types.

Distinguishing Sweet Wines from Dry Wines

Wine tasting clubs have sprouted all around the world and this can be credited from the popularity of wines. However, a tasting challenge can be a bit tricky particularly if you are new. Learning to distinguish a dry white wine from other types can be a wonderful trait which you can learn through the following guidelines.

* Sweet wines have a more honeyed taste because of the higher levels of sugar, unlike dry wines where all sugars have been fermented away.

* Familiarize yourself with the terms associated with white wines which can be your initial guide to wine tasting. Bottles labeled with Sauternes, Riesling and Chablis are in the dry white wine category while on the other hand Muscat and Tokay are sweet. Other dry wines are the Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Albario, and Muscadet.

* Smelling the wine by sticking your nose into the wine glass can help you determine if the wine is sweet or dry. Hints of fruit, honeysuckle and sugar would definitely tell you it is sweet, while a dry white wine hints of spices, herbs, yeast and wood. However, some wines have hints of chocolate and citrus that would make it difficult for the untrained nose to distinguish if these are sweet or dry. The best way is to familiarize yourself with such smells.

* Your best indicator to identify a sweet wine from a dry white wine is still your sense of taste. Tasting a wine does not mean gulping down swallows and emptying the glass. Just sip a small amount and let it rest on your tongue. Afterwards just swirl it around your mouth for some time and then swallow – and then wait for the oncoming aftertaste. A dry wine can taste stronger but has no lingering aftertaste unlike sweet wines which stays in your mouth even after you have swallowed the liquid.

Wine tasting can be a fun and enjoyable experience with friends and loved ones. You can teach yourself how to distinguish among wines by trying them out on your own and familiarizing yourself with their intrinsic qualities.