Get buzzed all winter long off this fragrant and light winter sangria recipe.

Sangria may remind you of summer, but it transitions easily into the cold-weather season, too. A fusion of cinnamon, cloves, red wine, and citrus–and this recipe for winter sangria will give you a warm buzz full of grounding spices and soul-soothing aromas. Entertain a crowd and sip into the night!

While the recipe does call for sugar, which helps to augment and marry together all the flavors, it is optional. You could nix it altogether or replace it with a alternative sweetener of choice, such as a few drops of liquid stevia, or an equal amount of maple syrup, honey, or coconut palm syrup.

You could also get more creative with the add-ins. Pomegranate is a deliciously sweet and tart winter fruit. If you’re looking for more diverse flavors, add the seeds of one pomegranate to the mix. The seeds also make for a beautiful garnish.

And, as with any sangria recipe, only use a wine you would drink on its own! Fruitier wines work best in sangria, but don’t choose one that you don’t enjoy by itself or that has been out for too long and tastes funky. The takeaway: your sangria will only taste as good as the wine you use as its foundation.

Winter Sangria Recipe

Serves 8-10

Ingredients

• 1 cup freshly-squeezed orange juice
• ½ cup freshly-squeezed grapefruit juice
• 1 cup sliced oranges
• 1/3 cup Triple Sec
• ¼ cup sugar (optional)
• 2 whole cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 1 lime, sliced
• 1 bottle fruity red wine
• Fresh mint leaves for garnish

Directions

Combine all of the ingredients in a pitcher and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight. Garnish with mint leaves upon serving.

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Sangria Image from Shutterstock

The post Aromatic and Light Winter Sangria Recipe: Bully Winter Blues Away with the Punch Bowl appeared first on EcoSalon.

This sangria recipe is my personal favorite and can be customized to your tastes.

Sangria is a Spanish staple that has earned international acclaim for its sweet taste and festive spirit. It is most certainly  a buzz-worthy feature at your next adult poolside party. All you need are a few bottles of wine, a bounty of chopped fruits (of your choice) and simple syrup. It all comes together overnight and the result is a refreshing beverage you’ll never bore of, all summer long.

The trick to a sangria recipe you actually love is to use wine that you would drink by itself and enjoy. Just like in cooking, if you use a wine you don’t particular enjoying drinking on its own, the recipe will turn out below your expectations. That doesn’t mean you have to buy an expensive wine – the recipe calls for two bottles, so that would be something I wouldn’t recommend doing – but it does mean use a cheap wine you like.

There is plenty of fruit in this recipe, which gives you leeway to replace each variety with a similar counterpart. Try replacing blueberries or strawberries with raspberries or blackberries. Nix the pineapple and opt for mango in its place. Grapefruit can replace oranges, as well. It’s all up to you and your experimentation, but this sangria recipe serves as a great base.

Summer Sangria Recipe

Makes 4 quarts

Ingredients

• 2 bottles red wine (Merlot or Shiraz work best)
• 2 cups simple syrup* (see simple syrup recipe below)
• 2 cups cranberry juice (no-sugar added)
• 2 cups diced pineapple
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 cup stemmed and chopped strawberries
• 1 orange, sliced into wedges and seeded
• 2 lemons, sliced into wedges and seeded
• 2 limes, sliced into wedges and seeded

Directions

Pour the wine, simple syrup and cranberry juice into a large pitcher that can fit 4 quarts. Stir until all is evenly combined. Squeeze the juice from the orange, lemons and limes into the mixture and then toss in the wedges once squeezed. Add the blueberries and strawberries and stir well. Cover the top of the pitcher with a lid or plastic wrap and place in the fridge overnight. The next day, when serving, garnish with more berries and fruit as well as a sprig of fresh mint.

*Simple Syrup Recipe

Makes 2 cups

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water

Directions

In a small pot over medium heat, bring the sugar and water to a bowl, stirring constantly. Once the sugar is dissolved, remove the pot from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature before use.

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Photo Credit: Divya Thakur

The post DIY Red Summer Sangria Recipe appeared first on EcoSalon.