Sangria

Sangria can turn a mediocre wine (Two Buck Chuck?) into an afternoon treat with a gaggle of friends. And the more you drink, the better it tastes. It can be made with red wine or white … plain wine or sparkling, so please try all possibilities.

To keep with the theme, you might start with a bottle (or two) of white or red Spanish wine. Chilled is better since you need to add less ice. Pour into a large pitcher. Add a good two tablespoons of caster sugar (or ultra-fine sugar), three or four shot glasses of triple sec or Cointreau.  Squeeze in one sliced-up lemon, one sliced-up lime, one sliced-up orange (Valencia?), and maybe a few slices of fresh pineapple. Then, unless you are using a sparkling wine (Persico or even champagne?), add a good glass of seltzer or ginger ale (Vernor’s). Mix well and add enough ice to fill. Kick back and enjoy.

Then make another pitcher … and another.