Summer Sangria Recipe

An easy way to liven up a summer get-together. In my youth, when I was living in Spain, Sangria was our favorite Friday afternoon, end of the week, kick your feet up event. The key to a good Sangria is to use decent wine. Seems like a waste, but it will taste so much better than if you use a cheap wine.

Ingredients:
1 Bottle of red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Rioja reds, Zinfandel, Shiraz)
1 Bottle of white wine (Sauvignon blanc)
Juice of 1 lemon
1 Lemon cut into rounds
Juice of one orange
1 Orange cut into rounds
2 Tablespoons superfine sugar
1 Shot brandy (optional)
1 teaspoon Orange or Grapefruit Bitters
4-6 Cups ginger ale or club soda

Directions:
Pour wine into a pitcher and squeeze the juice from the lemon and orange into the wine. Toss in the fruit rounds (leaving out seeds if possible) and add sugar and brandy. Chill overnight. Add ginger ale or club soda just before serving. If you'd like to serve right away, use chilled wine and serve over lots of ice - or just serve over ice any way.