10-Second Sangria

As residents of Washington, D.C., we're always reminded this time of year that the District used to be considered a "hardship post" by foreign diplomats, meaning that statesmen posted here got extra pay for enduring the area's swampy humidity and triple-digit temps. Air-conditioning has made D.C. summers more tolerable, but they can still be nasty. This summer so far has been especially brutal, with unrelenting heat (we hit 110 degrees this past weekend) and punishingly thick, muggy air.

Which is why we've been chugging sangria like it's tap water.

Sangria is cool and refreshing -- like air-conditioning in a glass! -- but it's always been one of those things that, to us, worked better in theory than in practice. A traditional sangria recipe can be a lot of labor and requires patience: chopping all that fruit, plopping it in wine, chilling it for a couple hours, mixing it with seltzer.  (And we're personally a little turned off by a glass of wine with little bits and strands of fruit in it.)  It just always seems like more trouble than it's worth.

But this summer, we've become obsessed with a new spin on sangria that'll ensure you'll always have a nice, cool glass close at hand. It's super fast, ridiculously easy, and it's sure to be your new summer fave.

Ladies and gentleman: The 10-Second Sangria.

We don't know where this recipe comes from.  We heard about it from our friends Drew and Ralph, who had heard about it from Drew's sister's boyfriend Kevin, who heard about it from a former roommate.... 

Personally, we're not too concerned with what the origins are.  We're just happy this magical drink has made its way to us.

How simple is this drink?  Well, it has three ingredients -- if you include ice.

Here's what you need:

A bottle of cheap red wine.  Drew and Ralph, after extensive, grueling experimentation, have concluded that Yellow Tail Shiraz is the optimal wine to be used in this drink. But anything red, cheap and relatively dry should work just fine. (In this case, if you're getting something that's more than eight bucks for a bottle, you're overpaying.)

You also need a bottle of sparkling lemonade, which you ought to be able to pick up at just about any grocery store. 

Umm, that's it!  Pour equal parts over ice, and enjoy!  If you want to throw the wine and the lemonade in the fridge for a while before you serve it, that's great. If not, no worries.

Really, though: 10 seconds. That's all that's standing between you and this cool, delicious sangria. The mix of red wine and sparkling lemonade is light and extremely refreshing. 

Pour one for yourself, and it's like somebody just turned the thermostat down 10 degrees.

Pour two and it's like you're sitting under a nice, breezy fan.

Pour three?  Well, you'll forget all about how hot it is.

10-Second Sangria
As introduced to us by Kevin, via Mary Margaret, via Drew & Ralph

Ingredients:

• Yellow Tail Shiraz (or similar red wine)
• Sparkling Lemonade

Fill a glass with ice.  Add equal parts wine and lemonade.  Serve.

Comments

[DCBrit]

This is similar to Calimocho, equal parts coke and red wine-- a poor mans sangria but perfect when you're in a bind.

[Cassidy]

This was so delicious on Saturday and is going to be my go-to drink until this heat breaks!

[Valerie]

Cheap and simple... air conditioning in a glass! I love it!

[Nick (Macheesmo)]

I'd hit that.

[Rae]

Sounds perfect for a hot night!

[Beth Anne]

What a fantastic idea! I've been going through sweet red wines like they are going out of style in this heat, so this is a great new twist! I'm going to give it a try right away!

[heather @ chiknpastry]

perfect - all i need is another 10 second alcoholic recipe. i'm on the fast track to being a lush already :).

i totally agree on the yellow tail shiraz. i always buy the shiraz-cabernet for sangria, but i can't tell you the last time i drank it as WINE, ya know?

[Emily]

I used to drink this all the time when I lived in Spain, it is called Tinto de Verano. It's a different drink than sangria and totally delicious. There it's usually served with lemon or orange soda.

[Emily Rae]

Oh Emily I'm so glad you said that! My sister spent five months in Cadiz, and her drink of choice was Tinto de Verano... but she didn't know what was in it. When she gets home I'm making this for her!

[laura k]

Yup, Tinto de Verano: My mascot summer beverage for years now. Although this summer I think the Pimm's Cup is going to give it a run for its money.

[Peggy]

Sounds so good! I think I might bust this one out this weekend!

[JennyBakes]

Yum, I always want sangria when it is hot, and this sounds so easy!

[Emily]

The mommies are coming over for a playgroup tomorrow afternoon. This is going to be a big hit!

[Marla]

Similarly, I enjoy a cheap Sauvignon Blanc (I'm trying out some of the box wines lately -- black box and octavin) mixed with some seltzer and lemon. Light and refreshing!

[Jaime]

I've read about this before...but it was red wine, lemonade and ice blended into a frozen sangria drink...I've been to chicken to try it...but your post gives this idea a little more weight. Thanks.

[Sara]

Ha! We make this with sunkist orange soda and call it Vinkist. It was a winning entry from a listener in our Summer Cocktail Contest last year:
http://www.howmuchdowelove.com/2009/10/24/hmdwl-cocktail-contest-results-part-2/

[Amanda Bennett]

haha, tinto de verano in the public parks in Cádiz...can't say it is the most classy drink but goodness do I have some memories.

Sangría in Spain is actually relatively quick, more like a 3-minute deal: red wine, fruit juice (usually orange), orange and/or lemon slices, and hard liquor. I was really surprised when my friend told me that the sangría she knew was prepared with apples and chilling everything together...when I had seen pitchers of sangría prepared right in front of me numerous times. And as long as you have the above ingredients in there, the ratios really don't matter - every sangría cueva prepares their drink differently!

[UrMomCooks]

You might try this with a flavored Italian soda -- I use blood orange... And I agree. This is fast and easy and Oh so delish in the summer... (And there are Spanish wines of the el-cheapo ilk...using them makes it feel so "respectable" HA!) Great post and pics!

[LP]

I've been searching for an easy (because who wants to buy a whole bottle of brandy) sangria recipe. THANKS for the tip!
--I'm new to your blog. Love it. Looking forward to reading all the archived posts!
xo-LP

[Dale]

Another good quick version is Lambrusco, slice of orange, and orange bitters if too sweet. Add soda water if the day is really hot.

[Nike Shox Classic]

I try to read
I go to work
I'm laughing with my friends
But I can't stop to keep myself from thinking.

[Julie P.]

Thank you guys for the heads up on this one! I've been making this using your suggested Yellow Tail Shiraz but mixed it with Polar Beverage Orange Dry soda (diet no less) available throughout New England for an awesome fruity Sangria. A friend of mine kept mocking me for raving about how good it was as she kept telling me how it wouldn't be Sangria to her without the fruit... that is until she came to pick me up for dinner one night and I handed her a small cup of it as I slid into her car. Changed someone's mind real quick, decided she didn't miss the fruit after all!

[EddieMYERS22]

I opine that to get the personal loans from banks you should present a good reason. But, once I have received a bank loan, just because I wanted to buy a house.