How to Make Sangria for Summer Parties: Two Easy Recipes with White and Red Wine

The sun is shinning, the BBQ is out and the world is absolutely wonderful. No! well add a jug of sangria to your luncheon and you might see the sunnier side of life. The most difficult question I shall impose on your delighted taste buds is very simple. White or red? Let's make a mean Sangria, that will liven up the party.

Ingredients: Makes 3 pitchers

• 2 bottles of good red wine, full bodied with a decent alcohol %
• 100 ml of cointreau
• 100 ml of Gordon's gin
• 100 ml of pimms
• 2 sliced oranges
• 2 red skinned apples cubed
• 2 sliced plums
• 2 sliced peaches
• a pint of red lemonade
• 1/2 a pint of fresh orange juice

The utter joy of this drink is so delicious that you don't even need the sunshine. All you need is a couple of wine pitchers, ice cubes and your fruit sliced and diced.

Method:

Divide the ice, fruit and red wine between your 3 pitchers. Top with the spirits, lemonade and orange juice. Stir and serve. Leave the pitchers in the fridge, until ready to pour.

White Wine Sangria Recipe

White wine sangria is a great summer drink for during the day. White wine lovers will enjoy this lighter fruity sangria recipe.

Ingredients: Makes 3 pitchers

• 2 bottles of cold, good quality dry white wine
• 100 ml of Gordon's gin
• 100 ml of peach schnapps
• 100 ml of white rum
• 2 sliced lemons
• 1/2 a pineapple sliced
• 2 kiwi fruits sliced
• 2 sliced bananas
• 1 pint of white lemonade
• 1/2 a pint of sparkling water

Method:

Divide the ice, fruit and white wine between each pitcher. Top with the spirits, lemonade and sparkling water. Stir and serve.

There is always a reason to celebrate and sangria is as good a drink as any to make a toast. If you fancy a little twist; replace your bottles of red wine in your red wine sangria with a good quality rosé wine.

Add a bottle of sparkling white wine instead of a bottle of still white wine to your white wine sangria.

Don't deliberate when you really want to celebrate. Sangria is a great drink for the summer months. If you're not much of a drinker or your celebrations are early in the day leave out the spirits and top up with a little extra lemonade.

That's simple; when it comes to making your sangria there are none; your sangria is your sangria so add what you like.

However, a good rule to follow is white sangria should have white or pale fruits; apple, pear, pineapple, melon, lemon, green grapes. White sangria should also have white spirits; gin, vodka, white rum etc and colourless or pale mixers.

Red sangria should have red fruits; red apples, peaches, plums, strawberries, cherries etc, with red or orange coloured mixers. Added alcohol should compliment and not smother the wine flavor. White spirits and vermouth's work equally well in red wine sangrias as do darker more caramel spirits.

Perhaps there is one or two rules you should adhere to. Serve your sangria in a classic glass pitcher or earthen wear jug. Pour into large bottomed wine glasses or pretty tumblers to display the colourful fruit. Presentation really does matter, so invest in some quality pitchers and drinking glasses.

What are you waiting for? Raid the booze cupboard and clear out the drinks trolley...it's time to party...and lets face it, all that fruit has gotta be at least one of your five a day. You can ditch the weetabix...or... whatever a bix...and raise a glass of sangria...