Where to Find the Summer of 2014 Sangria

Fruity, light and refreshing, sangria is the ultimate patio beverage, perfect for hot summer days. Sangria is the Spanish name for a fruit sweetened wine punch. Traditionally, it’s made with red wine, citrus fruits and brandy served in a pitcher of ice. However, there are many different recipes and combinations for making sangria including using white wine and other liqueurs.

The following Victoria restaurants offer their own unique sangria recipes, so good it’s available year round.

Tapa Bar

(620 Trounce Alley)

With both red and white sangria, the Tapa Bar uses a fresh fruit blend of apples, oranges, lemons, limes, and tart cranberries. It’s a thirst quenching, pallet cleansing popular menu item. The white is made with white grape juice, triple sec, and soda. The red is a made with brandy, orange and cranberry juice topped with soda and a splash of 7-up. (Glass $7.5 Pitcher $24.00 on Sangria Sundays pitchers are $18.00).

Il Covo Trattoria

(106 Superior Street)

Open for less than two months, Il Covo has already concocted some very impressive cocktails including their showstopper sangrias. The white is loaded with strawberries, blueberries, peaches, and mint, while the red is filled with perfectly chilled blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries. Each pint glass is packed so full you’ll want a spoon to finish it. The white sangria has cointreaux, soho lychee, white grape juice, and soda while the red has contreaux and cranberry juice. (Glass $7.5).

Bin 4 Burger Lounge

(180-911 Yates Street)

Bin 4 has three varieties of sangria which are all very tasty, aromatic, and full of flavour. All are served in mason jars for $6.50, or pitchers for $22.00

1). Grapefruit and Basil: Burrowing Owl “Calliope” Rose, brandy, fresh basil, grapefruit, sprite and soda with thick slices of orange. This is a true pallet cleanser and a great before sweet and sour “beford dinner” drink.

2). Apple Mint: Pinot Gris, Giffard Apple, brandy, fresh mint, sprite, and soda. A bubbly, not too sweet, not too sour, crisp apple infused sangria; very refreshing indeed!

3). Traditional Red Sangria: Graffigna Malbec, cinzano, brandy, cranberry and fresh orange juice. If you prefer the classic red wine sangria, this cocktail will not disappoint.

The Mint 

(1414 Douglas)

While they may not have a patio, The Mint still makes a mean sangria. The white is made with triple sec, peach schnapps, and lemon lime soda. It’s fairly sweet and the peach really comes through. The red is made with merlot, pomegranate liqueur and a touch of brandy, topped with lemon lime soda. ($7.75 per glass).

Santiagos Café 

(660 Oswego Street)

Since 1993, Santiago’s has been making a traditional sangria recipe that is sweet, sour, and potent. The recipe was first discovered by Santiago’s owner during his travels in Argentina (it’s quite the story too!). Red wine (or white) is mixed with house made jusca (brandy, orange cinzano and port), sprite and apples, oranges, lemons, and lime. (Glass $5.99, ½ pitcher $16.99, pitcher $25.99 and Sunday’s glasses are $3.99).

Silk Road Tea

— (6-1701 Douglas Street)

For a non-alcoholic (or with wine) sangria recipe, Silk Road has created a few brews to make a very refreshing and summery sangria tea. They are currently showcasing these specialty teas: Summer Escape, Summer Shangri-La for sangria. Find the recipe here.

Homemade Sangria Recipe:

Red Sangria

From here.  (5 servings)

1. One 750 ml bottle of fruity red wine such as Merlot

2. 4a oz. brandy

3. 3 oz. Simple Syrup (optional)

4. 1 cup mixed fruit (cut into chunks) oranges, lemons, limes and apples

5. Cubed ice

In a pitcher, combine red wine, brandy, simple syrup and fruit. Refrigerate until drink is chilled and flavours are blended, 4-8 hours. Serve sangria in chilled ice-filled wineglasses.

White Sangria (5 servings)

1. One 750 ml bottle of dry white wine or (Riesling or Moscato)

1. 4 oz. contreaux

2. 3 oz. simple syrup (optional)

3. 1 cup thinly sliced fruit such as peaches, strawberries and oranges

4. Sparkling soda water, or lemon-lime sprite for topping up glasses

5. Ice and fresh raspberries

Mix the first four ingredients together in a pitcher. Chill for 4-6 hours. Serve in wineglasses with ice. Top with a few fresh raspberries. Enjoy! Serves 5