Sangria is probably the best holiday beverage to serve: you can make it in large batches, it tastes better as it sits, and everyone loves it. This Late Harvest Berry Apple Sangria is quite a favorite in my group of friends – refreshing, tangy, and oh so delicious!
Some people get really stressed during he holiday season, but through the years, I’ve learned to manage that stress, divert it and sometimes all around ignore it. What does that have to do with a sangria recipe? Well, sangria is probably the easiest cocktail you can serve at a dinner party or family get together because it takes five minutes to put together, tastes like a cocktail genius made it and you don’t have to individually craft a specialty cocktail for each of your guests, meaning less stress.
If you’re looking for some ways to reduce stress during the holidays – other than copious amounts of sangria – here are some of my ideas:
- Instead of buying a thousand gifts for friends and family, donate to your charity of choice in their name. More thoughtful, less gift wrapping.
- Learn to say “no” more – don’t overcommit yourself to bake sales and brunches and coffee dates. Make sure to save some space in the calendar for you.
- Self-care is important. If you can, treat yourself to a manicure or massage – it’ll relax you and put you in a more giving mood.
This recipe came from a gift in the mail from American Juice Company and my love for Polar Seltzer. American Juice Company makes all natural cocktail blends – and this is a relief because what’s currently on the market are cocktail mixers packed with artificial colors and flavors, plus nasty HFCS. American Juice creates their blends from fresh ingredients, herbs, and spices. For example, the one I used was The Blueberry Finn and its ingredients are fresh blueberries, apples, limes, non-allergenic almond extract, cane sugar. That’s it!
And if you know me, you know I’m addicted to Polar Seltzer. Last summer I wrote a piece in Edible Vineyard about the company, how they are family owned and made in Worcester, MA, with no artificial anything. It’s seriously the best seltzer ever – and the limited winter flavors are out of this world, with Late Harvest Berries being one of my favorites. Blend these two companies together and you’ve got the main ingredients for a great sangria! Cheers my friends – may it be a stressless, happy holiday season.
p.s. For those of you that don’t consume alcohol, you can replace the wine for extra blueberry juice and the orange liqueur for orange extract or juice! The perfect mocktail over crushed ice and extra fruit!
Late Harvest Berry Apple Sangria
Ingredients
- 1 bottle red wine preferably Merlot
- 2 cups Blueberry cocktail mixer or blueberry juice
- 2 ounces Cointreau orange liqueur
- 1 tablespoon lemon extract
- 2 cups fresh blueberries
- 2 large apples cored and sliced
- 1 liter Late Harvest Berry Seltzer
- fresh mint to taste
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients except the seltzer and mint in a large pitcher.
- Let sit for at least an hour before serving.
- When ready to serve, top off with seltzer, mint, and more fruit if desired.
