End of the Summer Simple Sangria

As the end of summer nears we decided to invite some friends over for one final BBQ of the season and what better way to celebrate than with a pitcher of Sangria? For every family gathering my Abuelo always makes his famous Sangria which includes fresh fruits from his garden, most of the liquors from his bar, a truckload of sugar, and his secret ingredient. Unlike my grandfather, I do not have a garden full of fresh fruit, a bar of liquor, and the need for a ton of sugar. I have taken the best parts of his sangria and made a simple, fruity, and refreshing version of my own.

I have an 8 month old so everything that I do needs to be quick, easy, and cheap so that I have the rest of my time to focus on him. I chose simple fruits that did not require much fuss and cutting (grapes, apples with the skin on, and peaches). I have found a descent CHEAP red wine at Whole Foods for a whopping $3.99. Is it super fancy? No, but it does the trick and doesn’t break the bank, which is a plus!

My Abuelo’s Sangria is sweetened with cups of sugar and his secret ingredient, Orange Soda. I opted out of the cups of sugar and I decided to just add the Orange Soda. Dump in all of the ingredients in a pitcher, let the Sangria steep with the fruit for about 30 minutes, and the natural sweetness of the fruit will do the trick. Tada! You’re done!!!

Tip Alert!!! Use diet soda for a low calorie option (we try to stay away from artificial sweeteners, but it should taste just as good). Lastly, set aside some grapes, freeze them, and add them to your glass as ice cubes.

My Simple Red Wine Sangria

1 Bottle of Red Wine

3 Cups of Orange Soda

4 Cups of Chopped Fruits of Choice

1 Large Pitcher

Chop fruit into chunks and add to the bottom of the pitcher.

Pour in entire bottle of wine. Add orange soda. Cover pitcher with plastic wrap and allow to steep for 20-30 minutes. Serve in wine glass.

Tips: Use Diet Soda for a low calorie option. Freeze and add grapes to your pitcher as “ice cubes”.