Citrus and Basil Sangria
I’ve been having a lot of sangria recently. I don’t know if its because I’ve been doing a whole lotta celebrating recently or what, but there has been a ton of sangria in my life this past month. Okay, so maybe not a ton. Perhaps like 4-5 glasses over the last 4 weeks but thats a lot considering before this month I hadn’t had sangria in ages.
You see we are getting married in just over four months! 4 MONTHS PEOPLE!? OMG. I need to find shoes for my dress. And a makeup artist.
But one of the most exciting parts of getting married, besides actually getting married, is that we get to create all these kick ass cocktails for our bartenders to make the day of the wedding! SCORE! It’s tough work. I know. But hey, someones gotta do it!
And let’s talk about that for just a hot second. Why haven’t I had a sangria in so long? It’s kinda an amazing drink. You get a wine glass filled with tons of seasonal fruit and wine. That’s got my name written all over it.
Luckily this past weekend I picked up a bounty of fresh spring produce at my farmers market. After whipping up a few dishes I had planned for the weekend, I found myself with some extra fruit and decided to whip up a fun sangria for us for Saturday night dinner. The result, this awesome white wine sangria that is stuffed to the brim with delicious citrus, super ripe fragrant strawberries, fresh tangerine juice, white wine, a splash or two of brandy and a basil simple syrup. Pure perfection if you ask me. This one is totally going into my book for fun drinks to serve my friends this summer. Can you say summertime beach picnic!? So perfect. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 10 basil leaves
- 1 bottle sauvignon blanc
- 1 blood orange, sliced into thin rounds
- 1 cara cara, sliced into thin rounds
- 1 tangelo, sliced into thin rounds
- 1 handful strawberries, sliced
- 1 meyer lemon, skin peeled into strips and added - save juice for another use
- 1/4 cup brandy
- 1 cup blood orange italian soda
- 1/4 cup tangerine juice
Instructions
- In a small saucepan combine the water and sugar over high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Turn the heat off and add the basil leaves. Stir the simple syrup to combine and let the basil leaves sit for 20 minutes while the mixture cools.
- Meanwhile, in a large pitcher, combine the white wine, italian soda, citrus slices, strawberries, meyer lemon skin, brandy and tangerine juice. Stir to combine. Add the cooled basil simple syrup and stir. Let the sangria hang out for about 1 hour and then serve over ice.
I am so excited you are making one of my recipes and I would love to see how it turns out. Make sure to share it on instagram and tag me @whatsgabycookin so I can see your masterpiece!
Oh this sounds so good! I love the additional of basil, just a perfect summer drink!
This is simply fabulous! Yum!
This looks and sounds amazing! I want it for breakfast.
What gorgeous pictures! Love the addition of basil 🙂
These are gorgeous pitcures Gaby! I just love these flavors too!
Yes, please!
Looks beautiful and I’m sure it tastes fabulous!
Oh my! Bring on summer!
Such a beautiful sangria!!! How fun to be creating all these signature cocktails for the BIG DAY!!
Those look amazing! Perfect for a Summer evening. So good, I pined, and stumbled the recipe!
Thanks for sharing,
~Caroline
Cheers Gaby and OMG to how soon your wedding is! This sangria looks delicious and very quaffable.
Oh, this looks like heaven! I am obsessed with all drinks that include basil – must try this!
This looks incredibly refreshing, Gaby! And just in time for this heat wave we’re having in LA. Did you know it’s going to be 91 on Saturday?! I’m hoping we have just as nice a weather for the bake sale!
So fun and festive! I love the colors and the flavors!
I’m thinking I need to come to YOUR cocktail hour!
An amazing summer drink. I just love it. Never thought about adding the basil leaves though.
i absolutely LOVE basil in beverages. 🙂 I love basil in just about anything, but in beverages it’s particularly special! Saving this in my pasplore recipe database right now!
Hi–I just found your website via The Glitter Guide. I love all of your recipes and actually just ordered your cookbook!! Just in time for cinco de mayo. Great site and I can’t wait to explore more of your wonderful looking recipes.
Thanks Sabrina!!
Love On The R O C K S!!!-That’s what this beautiful drink should be called…lol(smiles)
What is “cara cara”?
it’s a type of orange!
Okay – looks like a blood orange; at least that’s what I’ve known those oranges to be. Hope I can find them in my area – they make the drink look wonderful!
The recipe is the best Sangria.
Love this recipe.
Oh. Yeah. Have to try this one! 😀
Cheers,
Kathryn