Light and crisp with a wonderful flavor of orange citrus bouncing through your glass, playing quite nicely with a beautiful chardonnay! Though it’s a drink perfect for spring or summer, this vibrant sangria will say brighten up any day of the year.
Sangria comes in all forms and flavors. This started off as normal, classic white sangria until I pulled out the Cointreau and the Aperol – two delightful liqueurs that showcase orange in distinctly different but amazing ways. Then orange sangria seemed to be more fun!
All sangrias share some common ingredients – fruit and wine. And as with any recipe using wine, don’t use something you wouldn’t drink on its own. A Chardonnay works perfectly for a lighter sangria, with its fruity flavor nestled among the subtle notes of oak. The fresh citrus in this drink is highlighted with those two fabulous orange scented liqueurs followed by a splash of Plymouth – one of my favorite gins along with some softening of the edges using simple syrup.
Toss in fresh orange and lime juice along with slices of orange, lime and peaches.
Give it a little time to chill and let those flavors join forces. Then you’re ready to relax and refresh in a delicious way!
Cheers to the warm weather!
Orange Sangria
1 bottle good Chardonnay
¼ cup Cointreau or Cointreau Noir
¼ cup Aperol
2 tablespoons good gin, such as Plymouth
4 tablespoons simple syrup
¼ cup lime juice, about 1 lime
¾ cup orange juice, about 1 large orange
1 lime, sliced
1 orange, sliced, plus extra for serving
2 peaches or nectarines, sliced (If you can’t find fresh you can use frozen.)
Ice for serving
Pour the Chardonnay, Cointreau, and the Aperol into a large pitcher. Stir in the gin and the simple syrup followed by the lime and orange juice.
Toss in the sliced lime, orange and peaches.
Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours or until well chilled. To serve, place a slice of orange in the bottom of a glass and fill with it with ice .
Give the sangria a stir then pour it over the ice. Ladling the sangria into the glass is easier if you want to leave the fruit in the pitcher.
Makes about 6 servings.
To make Simple Syrup:
2 cups water
3 cups sugar
Pour the water into a small saucepan, stir in the sugar. Warm over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar has completely dissolved. Keep refrigerated.
Orange Sangria
Ingredients
- For the sangria:
- 1 bottle 1 good Chardonnay
- ¼ cup Cointreau or Cointreau Noir
- ¼ cup Aperol
- 2 tablespoons good gin, such as Plymouth
- 4 tablespoons simple syrup
- ¼ cup lime juice, about 1 lime
- ¾ cup orange juice, about 1 large orange
- 1 lime, sliced
- 1 orange, sliced, plus extra for serving
- 2 peaches or nectarines, sliced
- Ice for serving
- For the simple syrup:
- 2 cups water
- 3 cups sugar
Instructions
- To make the sangria:
- Pour the Chardonnay, Cointreau, and the Aperol into a large pitcher.
- Stir in the gin and the simple syrup followed by the lime juice and orange juice.
- Toss in the sliced lime, orange and peaches or nectarines. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours or until well chilled.
- To serve, place a slice of orange in the bottom of a glass then fill with it with ice. Give the sangria a stir then pour it over the ice. Ladling the sangria into the glass is easier if you want to leave the fruit in the pitcher.
- To make the simple syrup:
- Pour the water into a small saucepan, stir in the sugar. Warm over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar has completely dissolved. Keep refrigerated.
