It's Sangria Season

The warm weather always brings our favorites back to our stores. Seasonal craft beer and rose wine are natural pairings with the opportunity to spend time outside. Summer also means Sangria, and we have recipes to share with you. Please note that when we list "bottle" below, we're referring to one 750ML bottle.

White Sangria Sparkler

1 bottle white wine, like the Campana Pinot Grigio
2 peaches, sliced
2 kiwis, peeled and thinly sliced
1 cup raspberries
3 tablespoons sugar, or more, to taste
1 bottle sparkling white wine; try the Capriccio Prosecco
8 sprigs mint

In a large pitcher, whisk together white wine, peaches, kiwis, raspberries and sugar.

Let chill in refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

Serve over ice with sparkling white wine, garnished with mint, if desired.

Citrus Moscato Sangria

1 Blood orange, sliced
2 Clementine mandarins, sliced
1 Grapefruit, sliced
10 Kumquats, sliced
1 Lemon, Juice of
2 Oranges, sliced
2 tbsp Honey
2 cups Sparkling water
1 bottle Moscato wine
1/2 cup Orange liqueur like Grand Marnier

Put the citrus fruit slices and segments in a pitcher. Add the honey and orange liqueur, let macerate for at least 30 minutes.

Add the chilled sparkling water, moscato, lemon juice and ice. Mix well. The citrus moscato sangria can be served immediately or kept refrigerated for a couple of hours before serving.

When serving the sangria use a spoon or fork to put some of the citrus pieces into each glass.

Traditional Red Sangria

Our friends at Senor Sangria have provided this recipe. If you want a grab-and-go Sangria in red or white, you can't go wrong with Senor Sangira.

There are many ways to make red sangria, everyone has their own secret recipe. The recipe below is pretty close to a traditional red sangria. Part of the enjoyment of sangria is making it and turning a recipe into your own. We recommend you start with the recipe below and feel free to alter it slightly every time you make it. Sangria is more then a drink it is an experience to share with your friends and family.

8 Cups Burgundy Wine (try Joseph Drouhin Laforet Pinot Noir or Domaine de la Combe au Loup Beaujolais-Villages)

1/4 Cup Christian Brothers Brandy

1/4 cup Hiram Walker Triple Sec

2 cups Orange Juice

1/2 cup Lemon Juice

1/2 cup Lime Juice

1/4 cup Sugar

1 cup Water

2 Oranges, sliced

1 Lemon, sliced

2 Apples, sliced

Mix all ingredients together expect for the fruit (oranges, lemon and apples), and refrigerate immediately after mixing. Let marinate a minimum of 2 hours (ideally overnight).

An hour before serving cut up the fruit and add it into the pitcher. Pour the sangria into an glass with ice. Sit back and enjoy!

What We Enjoy

Particularly from Thanksgiving through Christmas, the staff at Joe Canal's are asked for suggestions on the best wines, or other beverage alcohol items, to pair with meals, to serve as aperitifs, or as digestifs. And after we assist our customers, we have to make those same choices for ourselves. A few of our team members told us about their selections.

David Rudd, Floor Manager, Woodbridge: "We drank a no-frills, but delicious, Sangria made with a Carlo Rossi jug wine, fruit brandy, and as much sliced fruit as would fit in a five gallon bucket. We had a gorgeous red from Mercurey (Burgundy) with the turkey. After dinner we had some bottle-aged Dogfish Head 120, Fultons Harvest Apple Pie cream liqueur and a delicious absinthe concoction with lime, sugar and water that tasted like liquid fennel salad."

Mike Reardon, Receiving Manager, Lawrenceville: "We had the Dead Bolt red blend for Thanksgiving. We liked it so much that we'll probably have it again at Christmas. I also had some of the Innis and Gunn Holiday pack."

Lindsey Daly, Supervisor, Lawrenceville: "I'm drinking The Bruery Autumn Maple for Thanksgiving; its a delicious yam beer. For Christmas I'm going to drink mostly stouts; Left Hand Nitro milk stout, Terrapin Moo Hoo chocolate stout, and Founders Breakfast Stout. And we'll start Christmas morning with Bloody Mary's, made with Tito's vodka."

Yes, after we help you, we enjoy shopping where we work. Please ask us for suggestions. Our knowledgeable team members are happy to help.