Thirsty Thursdays: Rose Sangria

Now doesn't that look refreshing? Indeed, it was. Summer is the perfect time of year to serve sangria, and sangria is the perfect thing to serve a crowd.

Typically, sangria involves mixing wine with a bit of brandy, some fruit, a splash of plain soda water and some sugar. While red sangria may be more traditional, you can make it with any variety of wine. White sangria is delicious ... and rose is even better!

Divalicious Rose Sangria:

• 1 small orange
• 1/2 small lime, sliced into rounds
  
• some fresh blackberries (aka black raspberries)
• 1 small Empire apple, chopped
  
• 1 fresh nectarine, pitted and sliced
  
• 1 bottle of good quality Rose wine
• 1/4 cup Cassis
• 1 tsp. agave nectar
• 1/2 cup of plain seltzer or soda water

Juice the orange into a large pitcher - no seeds, please, so use a strainer. To the oj, add the sliced lime and a handful of fresh blackberries. Crush the berries a bit to release their juices, using a long wooden spoon. Add the apples and nectarine, and pour the bottle of rose over the fruit. Stir to combine.

Measure out 1/4 cup of Cassis into a glass measuring cup and to it add 1 tsp. of agave nectar, whisk well to combine then add it to the wine and fruit mixture, stir and add 1/2 cup of plain seltzer. Stir again to combine. Cover the pitcher with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to blend.

To serve, place some ice into a large wine glass, fill with sangria, allowing some fruit to spill into the glass. Garnish with a few whole blackberries, serve and enjoy, repeat as necessary!

If you are serving a crowd, go right ahead and double, or even triple, the recipe. Feel free to play around with the combination of fruits as well. Peaches would be lovely, red raspberries divine. Personally, I don't enjoy a really sweet sangria, so I've opted for using just a bit of agave nectar here. You could certainly substitute some sugar, if you like, or even a bit of simple syrup.

If you're desirous of something even lighter, and less caloric, fill 2/3 of the glass with sangria and top off with some additional plain seltzer. And, voila, you've made a sangria spritzer! Either way, this is a light, refreshing summer sipper that's as festive as it is delicious. I hope you'll try it!

Cheers!