I’ve been on a quest for a refreshing alcoholic drink for Summer. While I do love the spiked lemonade I am known for amongst our friends, I wanted something different for this Summer. Being a fan of sangria, especially in warmer weather, I was looking for something along those lines.

Sangria is a Spanish alcoholic drink that combines wine with a distilled alcohol, fruit juice, and cut up fresh fruit. It was formally introduced to the US at the 1964/65 World’s Fair in Queens, NY. Somewhat similar, wine spritzers are wine with seltzer, and fruit added as a garnish. They both use wine as a base and have fruit in them, but the fruit in a sangria is mixed into the wine and alcohol and allowed to sit and ferment for a period of time before serving. Wine spritzers can be mixed just ahead of time and served immediately.

While the following recipe was initially labeled as a spritzer, I feel it is more in line with a sangria. Either way, it is refreshing and tropical and perfect for Summer!

Tropical White Wine Sangria

Tropical White Wine Sangria (inspired by a recipe from thisdelicioushouse.com)

Total Time Required: at least 1 hour, Prep Time: 5 mins, Standing Time: 1+ hours, Makes: 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle white wine
• 1 cup fresh pineapple, cubed
• 1 cup green grapes, halved
• 1/2 cup Malibu Rum
• 1/2 cup pineapple juice
• sparkling water or seltzer, optional

Instructions:

In a large carafe, combine the wine with the pineapple chunks, grapes, coconut liqueur, and pineapple juice.

Combine the wine, Malibu, pineapple juice, and fruit in a pitcher.

Refrigerate the mixture for at least an hour and up to 12 hours, before serving. To serve, pour 5-6 ounces into a wine glass, and top with seltzer and ice, if desired. Garnish with some pineapple chunks and grape halves.

Serve with seltzer water, and ice if desired, and garnish with fruit.

A delightful, tropical twist to sangria! ~Linda

Tropical White Wine Sangria (inspired by a recipe from thisdelicioushouse.com) Total Time Required: at least 1 hour, Prep Time: 5 mins, Standing Time: 1 – 12 hours, Makes: 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle white wine
• 1 cup fresh pineapple, cubed
• 1 cup green grapes, halved
• 1/2 cup Malibu Rum
• 1/2 cup pineapple juice
• sparkling water or seltzer, optional

Instructions:

In a large carafe, combine the wine with the pineapple chunks, grapes, coconut liqueur, and pineapple juice. Refrigerate the mixture for at least an hour and up to 12 hours, before serving. To serve, pour 5-6 ounces into a wine glass, and top with seltzer and ice, if desired. Garnish with some pineapple chunks and grape halves.