Sangria (Spanish: Sangría) is a wine punch typical of Spain and Portugal, also consumed in Argentina, Uruguay and Trinidad and Tobago. It normally consists of wine, chopped fruit, a sweetener, and a small amount of added brandy. To be specific, a wine is a light, dry, young, high acid, unoaked, inexpensive wine, usually red wine due to Sangria's connotation with the word blood. Reds that work well include French styles such as Gamay or Beaujolais, and Italian styles such as Grignolino, Bardolino, Dolcetto, Freisa or Lambrusco. In the case of fruits, they are chopped or sliced such as orange, lemon, lime, apple, peach, melon, berries, pineapple, grape and mango. A sweetener such as honey, sugar, simple syrup, orange juice is added. Instead of brandy, other liquids such as Seltzer, Sprite or 7 Up may be added conversely everclear can be added to increase alcohol content.
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Because of the variation in recipes, sangria's alcoholic content can vary greatly. The ingredients in sangria vary, particularly in the type of fruit used, the kind of spirits added (if any), and the presence or lack of carbonation.
Sangria is served throughout Spain and Portugal during summer, and in the southern and eastern parts of the countries year-round. In these places it is a popular drink among tourists at bars, pubs and restaurants where it is often served in 1-litre pitchers or other containers large enough to hold a bottle of wine plus the added ingredients. A lid or other strainer for the container helps prevent the fruit and ice cubes from falling into the glass. Among the Spanish and Portuguese, sangria is most typically served at informal social gatherings, much like punch, from a punchbowl. Sangria is often served with a wooden spoon, used to get fruit out of the bottom of the punchbowl or pitcher. Sangria is also commonly served in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Chile, Argentina and Philippines, and at Mexican and Argentine restaurants.
Bottled sangria can be bought in some countries. In the parlance of EU administrators, such products are referred to as "aromatised wines". Sangria has become popular in the UK, with several supermarkets stocking it during summer months.
Jerry Jeff Walker included the song Sangria Wine on his 1973 album Viva Terlingua which was about partying with friends and getting drunk on sangria wine. Althouogh he also described using apples which is an ingredient of wassail.
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