Peninsular Sangría

History

So on my quest for self improvement I was reading up on some of the history that I will be teaching to students as a Social Studies teacher. One of the things I was brushing up on was the colonial caste system of the Spanish Americas. The caste system consisted of five main groups the lowest being the Native Americans or indios and the highest being Peninsulars. Peninsulars were Spanish-born Spaniards or mainland Spaniards living in the New World. The word "peninsular" refers to the Iberian Peninsula where Spain is located.

So what does this have to do with sangría? Well sangría is a popular beverage all around the world. In NYC it's not uncommon to spend a night out drinking sangría while spending time with friends and I wanted to know why. How did sangría become such a popular drink that everyone seems to know and love?

For those of you that don't know, the name sangría is derived from the word sangre which in Spanish means blood. This is because sangría is traditionally made with red wine, which gives it a blood red color, thus the name. Sangría is a very sweet wine punch. It is the perfect drink for a warm afternoon since it is cooling and refreshing. Actually it is the perfect accompaniment to paella, another famous tradition od Spain (we will come back to this). I looked for the origins of this drink but sadly, they have been lost through time. However , even though its ancestry is lost it is no doubt Spain's most popular drink.

From it s roots in Spain, sangría has become a trendy party drink around the world. It first became popular in the 1800s, when fruit punch was served at debutant balls or bal masqué (masquerade balls), the perfect drink for a night of dancing and socializing among hundreds. Peninsulars must have brought this famous tradition to the New World when they hosted balls and the like.

Types

The original sangría was made with red wine, fruit juices, brandy and fresh fruit and soda water. Today there are many different versions of the recipe. There is a strong sangría recipe, spice, party, citrus, peach and orange, cranberry and strawberry, the list goes on. My favorite is the white wine version, it is a lighter option in this heat.

http://www.spain-recipes.com/sangriarecipe.html

Recipe

Peninsular Sangría


4 cups light bodied red wine (dry)
3/4 cup brandy
1/2 cup sugar
1 large orange (use the juice)
1 large lemon (use the juice)
1 large orange (sliced thin crosswise)
1 large lemon (sliced thin crosswise)
2 peaches, peeled, pitted and cut into chunks
2 cups club soda

Combine all the ingredients except for the fruit and club soda in a large punch bowl or serving pitcher, mixing well until sugar is dissolved. Chill well. Just before serving, mix in the fruit and club soda. Pour into cups with ice cubes (makes about 6 cups).

This is a simple and easy drink to make that requires very little preparation. Just remember that it needs to be served cold so if you are having people over try and prepare it a few hours before they arrive. also don't be afraid to be creative, add what you like to the drink. My sister added red grapes to our pitcher of sangría when I wasn't looking and it tasted fabulous. My friend Frank, added lychee fruit to his recipe while others have added fresh mint. Also, be aware, this beverage is more alcoholic than its mild taste suggests.

Thanx for reading,

Cin