My search for the perfect sangria
My sangria story appeared in the Taste section today. There wasn't room in the print edition for my sidebar on three bottled sangrias I tried, so I thought I would publish it here. EL
Sometimes you want sangria for a party or a picnic or just for backyard sipping, but you don’t want to go to the trouble of making it. For those times there is bottled sangria. I went to a wine shop and picked up three for an informal taste test. ...
To my surprise, three of us had exactly the same reaction to them, although all three of us have very different tastes in alcoholic drinks. I was also surprised at how little information there is on the bottles on what’s in them.
The most expensive, Cruz Garcia Real Red Sangria ($7.99), has 7 to 10 percent alcohol, and contains “Spanish red wine and natural citrus flavors.” It was the one the three of us liked least. It had a “weird kick,” an aftertaste or spiciness that no one enjoyed.
The Aromas de Tures ($6.99), with 7.1 percent alcohol and “grape wine with natural flavors added,” was the one that tasted most of cheap red wine. You expect them all to be made with cheap red wine at those prices, but not to taste like it.
The bottled sangria we all three preferred was the Lost Vineyards of Spain ($4.99), 6 percent alcohol, a “red wine product with natural fruit flavors.”
It tasted like fruit punch with not much alcohol, which might be just the thing for your Labor Day picnic if it’s hot and you’re not a beer drinker -- or not much of a drinker at all, like me.
Be sure to doctor any of these with cut-up fresh fruit. Apples, peaches, nectarines, oranges, and blueberries all work well. The fruit – and the drink – will be much improved if you soak the fruit in the sangria for a few hours or overnight.
(Photo of Tapas Teatro's sangria by Tasha Treadwell/Sun photographer)
Comments
Tio Pepe's has the best sangria I've dranken in Bmore, or anywhere for that matter. Funny story, one time my grandma went to Tio Pepes and got drunk off their sangria, decided she liked the painted pitchers they came in, and stole one by hiding it in her purse.
My sister actually asked for their recipe and they happily obliged. Now we have the power to create the delicious concoction! If anyone's interested in the recipe I can axe my sister for it and post it here.
Posted by: Corey | August 26, 2009 12:04 PM
"The most expensive, Cruz Garcia Real Red Sangria ($7.99), has 7 to 10 percent alcohol"
That's quite a range! Is that what was printed on the bottle?
Yes. :-) EL
Posted by: sean | August 26, 2009 12:06 PM
Dranken?
Posted by: RayRay | August 26, 2009 12:09 PM
I recently recorded Emeril Lagasse who demonstrated how to make "his" sangria. It is the first video out of the two on my story on Lagasse. Lagasse definitely knows how to entertain. http://ow.ly/lpNj
Posted by: Dara Bunjon | August 26, 2009 12:11 PM
Corey - I am axeing for the recipe. Love Tio Pepe sangria.
Posted by: Kitkat | August 26, 2009 12:52 PM
Boordy Vineyard sells great sangria.
Posted by: NotableM | August 26, 2009 1:12 PM
And in the winter, Boordy switches to a pretty decent wassail.
Posted by: sean | August 26, 2009 1:27 PM
Scratch that, looks like they sell both year-round now.
Posted by: sean | August 26, 2009 1:30 PM
I would love the recipe for white sangria from Tio Pepe or the peach/white sangria from California Pizza.....gee, now I want a glass for lunch!
Posted by: Foxy Roxy | August 26, 2009 1:34 PM
RayRay, yes, dranken, try using it instead of the grammatically correct version, and say it with a hick accent, it's much more fun.
Foxy Roxy and Kitkat, I'll bug my sister tonight. By the way, nice stripper names!
Posted by: Corey | August 26, 2009 1:45 PM
LOL
Posted by: Anonymous | August 26, 2009 2:09 PM
That's how my sisterwife says it.
Posted by: RayRay | August 26, 2009 2:16 PM
What
No YAGO????
White Sangria is like kosher bacon...
Posted by: Hue | August 26, 2009 2:19 PM
Well, sangria means "bloody," I believe. So maybe white sangria refers to white blood cells...?
Posted by: sean | August 26, 2009 2:32 PM
Teavolve...a place in Harbor East, under the Eden Apartments. Has Ginger Peach Tea Infused Sangria...its very tasty! and the food was good as well. Definitely worth a trip
Posted by: Brian | August 26, 2009 2:38 PM
PCB Winery has some good sangria, had it at our office party last night.
Also had some watermelon wine too, they make that as well.
Posted by: PCB Rob | August 26, 2009 2:43 PM
Brian is right about Teavolve and the tea infused Sangria. It's fantastic. I was afraid to mention it because its not a "classic" sangria, and folks can grumpy about that sort of thing here.
Posted by: Richard | August 26, 2009 3:04 PM
Luca's Cafe in Locust Point serves outstanding sangria. Lando (co-owner) is a friend of mine and he his recipe is excellent.
Posted by: D.R. | August 26, 2009 3:50 PM
Bad news bears, my sister no longer has the exact measurements, only the ingridients. I can at least provide those.
Shiraz
E+J Brandy
Triple Sec
A lot of sugar
And the fruit, apples and oranges.
Sorry!
Posted by: Corey | August 27, 2009 9:32 AM
That reminds me of a drink I loved at a small Spanish restaurant on Yonge St. in Toronto. Sol y Sombra - cheap Spanish brandy and sambucca - 1/2 & 1/2 - WOW
Posted by: Kitkat | August 27, 2009 11:03 AM
Shill at 11:03 AM! (Besides, isn't it still illegal to mail wine to somebody in Maryland?)
I don't think he expected me to publish it. He was just trying to get in touch with me to send me some samples. I guess. I know the wine critic gets wine shipped to him sometime, but he doesn't solicit it (or pay for it) so maybe that makes a difference. EL
Posted by: hmpstd | August 27, 2009 11:30 AM
Shill? Who said anything about mailing wine anywhere? Sol y Sombra is the name of a drink - don't remember the name of the resturant and its probably OOB anyway. How come Lissa can talk on and on about Canada and isn't considered a shill.
Posted by: Kitkat | August 27, 2009 11:51 AM
Canada? How often do I talk about Canada? I thought it was always Chicken Rico I was going on about?
Dang....maybe I'm mixing up my "C" words? That could be bad...don't want to mix up a cantaloupe and a, um, clarinet.
Posted by: Lissa | August 27, 2009 12:07 PM
Kitkat, there was a post which went up at the exact same time (11:03 AM) as your post, but which has since been removed. The offending post (which most definitely wasn't yours) was from a self-described entrepreneur (from Atlanta, GA or thereabouts), who was hawking a new brand of sangria and offering to mail samples to EL (since the brand in question wasn't in national distribution). Sorry if you thought we were referring to you. Of course this assumes that you, yourself, aren't also hawking Atlanta sangria on the side under a different nym. ;-)
Posted by: hmpstd | August 27, 2009 12:09 PM
hmpstd - sorry, did't see other post.
Posted by: Kitkat | August 27, 2009 12:52 PM
Lissa,
Terri and I tried Chicken Rico last week. Great chicken and sides. Plus, What a bargain! I will definitely go back.
Posted by: RayRay | August 27, 2009 1:17 PM
No problem, Kitkat.
Posted by: hmpstd | August 27, 2009 1:18 PM
RayRay, I'm glad you liked Chicken Rico. I think they are the best food bargain in town. Delicious, too.
They should pay me .
Posted by: Lissa | August 27, 2009 2:34 PM
RayRay, I joined the Chicken Rico cult as well. Juicy, delicious, crispy-skin chicken and equally terrific sides. The fried plantains and yucca were addictive. It more than lived up to Lissa's praise.
Posted by: *◄:o)╥╥~YumPorchetta | August 27, 2009 3:32 PM
One of us, one of us, gooble gobble one of us.
Posted by: RayRay | August 27, 2009 3:36 PM
RayRay: "My people are decent circus folks, not dirty rats that would kill a freak to get his money."
Posted by: *◄:o)╥╥~YumPorchetta | August 27, 2009 4:18 PM
Sangria Recipe:
Cheap Jug of Sangria (Carlo Rossi style)
5/6 Shots of Bacardi Rum (estimate) per pitcher
Apples and Oranges Cut Up
Seltzer
Sugar for sweetening
THIS IS GOOD!
Posted by: FoodBooty | August 27, 2009 11:07 PM
I really think that Mezze has the best Sangria...I happen to like the
red the best, but some friends prefer the white!!! They should be on
the top ten list at number 1.
Posted by: RC | August 28, 2009 3:09 PM