AD -This is a collaboration with Barefoot Wine 

The summer is finally upon us in the UK. I did wonder if it was ever going to arrive, but finally, it's hot and sunny here!

To celebrate the beautiful weather, I held a summer party in the garden with family and friends, well, you have to make the most of life, don't you!? 

Planning a summer party is always fun and I am lucky enough to have the most amazing mother-in-law Anne who always helps when we have family get-togethers and makes some fantastic party food. We decided to go for a summer picnic theme with fresh colourful salads, amazing free-range dry cure ham and a selection of delicious bread. Anne has a beautiful garden and the weather was fantastic so we held it there. But what to drink, you may ask?

I decided to make a sangria as it is a fantastic summer drink. This fruity alcoholic concoction always means summer in a glass to me.  So what is sangria?

Sangria is a popular Spanish and Portuguese punch traditionally made with red wine, fresh fruit, and often a touch of brandy or other spirit. Originating from Spain, it typically includes ingredients like oranges, lemons, apples, and berries. Sometimes it's mixed with sparkling soda and other times it's just left as it is. It's an easy drink to make and this vibrant, fruity drink is commonly served chilled, making it a favourite at summer gatherings and festive occasions. There are many variations, including white sangria made with white wine, and even sparkling sangria using cava or prosecco.

So I trawled the internet and adapted a version for our summer garden party. My version of the sangria below leaves out the sparking wine or soda and has a fruity alcoholic kick. I also used Cointreau instead of brandy as I love the orange flavour. So here is my version of sangria using red Zinfandel from Barefoot Wine.

Sangria Recipe

350ml of Barefoot Wine red Zinfandel 
200ml orange juice
200ml Cointreau or brandy
1 apple, washed, cored and chopped
1 orange washed and thinly sliced
1/2 small punnet strawberries, washed, hulled and sliced
1 lemon, washed and thinly sliced

You can explore more about the Barefoot Wine red Zinfandel on this link. 

And the verdict of the sangria? Let's just say the two bottles of red Zinfandel made a lot of sangria that day! 

Check out more about Barefoot Wine on their summer hub here https://www.barefootwine.co.uk/barefoot-summer-hub

Of course, always ensure you drink responsibly and don't drink and drive. If you are drinking alcohol, drink plenty of water too. Assign a designated driver and know your limits.

Let me know, which is your favourite summer cocktail? Do you love sangria as much as I do?