How to Make Refreshing Sangria and Similar Summer Drinks

The key to a refreshing sangria or other summer drinks by the pitcher is to dial down the sugar and dial up the ice.

Summer living is easy and a make-ahead pitcher of an ice-cold summer drink let's you spend time relaxing along with your guests. The key to making a sangria or other summer drinks by the pitcher is to dial down the sugar, use only fresh fruit, add some sparkle with soda or sparkling water and top it off with lots of ice. Too much sugary sweetness actually makes you thirstier and the tartness of fresh citrus fruits helps make the drinks more refreshing.

Things You'll Need

• Large pitcher
• 1 bottle medium-bodied red wine
• 1/4 cup triple sec liqueur or brandy
• 1/3 cup icing sugar
• 2 oranges sliced
• 2 lemons sliced
• 2 nectarines cut into thin wedges
• 20 seedless red or white grapes halved
• 3 cups soda or sparkling water
• Ice cubes

Instructions

Easy Sangria

1. Add one bottle of red wine -- choose a Spanish red if you want to be authentic -- and ¼ cup of brandy or triple sec to a large pitcher.

2. Stir in 1/3 cup of icing sugar. You can use regular sugar instead but the icing sugar will dissolve more quickly.

3. Add the sliced fruit to the pitcher. Cover the pitcher and chill for at least eight hours in the refrigerator to allow the flavors to combine.

4. Top up the pitcher with soda or sparkling water just before serving and add plenty of ice to the glasses you'll serve it in.

Other Summer Pitcher Drink Suggestions

1. Make a pitcher of ice tea or lemonade from a frozen concentrate and add 12 fluid oz. of a flavored or unflavored vodka. Make it even more refreshing by adding a ¼ cup of fresh lime juice. Serve in tall glasses filled with ice.

2. Mix 4 cups of Campari with 4 cups of soda or sparkling water in a pitcher and add two sliced oranges and two sliced lemons. Serve in tall glasses filled with ice.

3. Cut the flesh of a half of a medium-size seedless watermelon into chunks. Puree in a blender and strain through a sieve to produce about 4 cups of watermelon juice. Pour the juice into a large pitcher and add 16 oz. of homemade lemonade or frozen concentrate and 12 oz. of vodka. Pour into tall glasses filled with plenty of ice.

Tips & Warnings

• Substitute prosecco for white wine in cocktail recipes to add sparkle to your summer drink pitcher.

• Chill both the pitcher and glasses in the refrigerator to help keep your drinks ice cold.

• For a decorative touch, freeze small pieces of cut up fruit with the water in your ice cube trays.

References

• "Victoria Times Colonist"; Red Wine Sangria; Canadian Press; September 21, 2005
• Bonappetit: Pitcher Drinks
• CBS News; Summer Drinks in Big Batches; Brian Dakss; November 2009
• New York Magazine; Breaking the Ice; Gillian Duffy
• Victorville Daily Press; Summer Cocktails: Drinks that are "Pitcher" Perfect; May 2011