For cool summer refreshment, whip up a batch of classic Sangria. Its delightful fruitiness will perk you up on the hottest day. Sip it in the garden with friends, bring it to a barbecue, or keep a batch in the fridge to enjoy all week. Added perks: sangria is effortless to prepare and impressive to serve. So what are you waiting for?

Category: Beverages
Prep time: 15 minutes
Number of portions: 8

Ingredients:

1 large (1.5 liter) bottle inexpensive Merlot (or two 750 ml bottles)
3 large, heavy juice oranges
2 small or 1 1/2 large, heavy lemons
1/2 cup superfine sugar
1/2 cup orange liqueur, such as Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or Triple Sec

Directions:

1. Wash oranges and lemons. Slice lemons and 1 1/2 oranges into 1/8-inch
thick rounds.

2. Combine sliced fruit and sugar in large pitcher. Mix gently for about 1
minute, pressing with spoon and stirring until the fruit juices are released
and sugar dissolves. (Granulated sugar will work if you don't have
superfine; just make sure that you mix long enough for the sugar to combine
with the fruit.) The orange and lemon slices will appear somewhat smashed
but should remain intact.

3. Juice the remaining oranges and add to the pitcher, along with the wine
and orange liqueur.

4. Refrigerate all day (or, at minimum, 2 hours).

5. Stir sangria and serve in wine glasses with ice.

Variations:

White Sangria

The recipe above can be made with fruity, medium-bodied white wine instead
of Merlot.

Extra Fruity Sangria

It's fun to experiment with sangria! Feel free to embellish red or white
sangria with your favorite fruits, adding approximately 1 cup of fresh fruit
to the base of orange and lemon slices AFTER you've mashed the citrus.
You'll need to add 12-24 ounces of sparkling water or lemon-lime soda to
keep your sangria from becoming a fruit stew, and keep in mind that you'll
end up with a larger batch that will serve approximately 12. Consider these
fruit combinations:

• pitted cherries and 1/2-inch chunks of pineapple (1 cup of each)
• thinly sliced strawberries and kiwi (1 cup of each)
• blueberries and peeled, thinly sliced peaches (1 cup of each)
• 1/8-inch slices of apples or pears (1 cup)