Simply Sangria

 Originally published July 31, 2012

This is the only sangria recipe you will ever need. One container and three easy ingredients that are cheap and easy to get. It's also just about the best sangria you'll ever have (and certainly the best you will make at home for just a handful of dollars). 

The first think you need to do is buy yourself a bottle of Simply Lemonade. Or maybe Simply Limeade or Simply Orange; any Simply juice will do fine. They’re all good.

The next thing you need to do is drink your Simply juice. All of it.

Next, you pour a bottle of red wine in the container. Not “Merlot” or “Red Zinfandel.” “Red” wine. As in, the cheapest bottle of red table wine there is. We’re talking the $4.99 bottle on the endcap of the corner liquor store. That red.

Then follow that up by pouring in a can of ginger ale and a can of fruit cocktail. Swirl it around a bit and pour it in to a glass over some ice. Enjoy. Simple, no? Also? DELICIOUS.

Even better, if you’re only an occasional drinker, this sangria will sit patiently on the door shelf of your refrigerator for months waiting for you to indulge. I actually will occasionally dump any leftover red wine from other bottles and add a tad more ginger ale or fruit juice as needed. Evergreen sangria!

And if you need to make this for a lot of people, get a punchbowl, a box (3 bottles) of red wine, a two liter bottle of ginger ale and the big can of fruit cocktail (or two 15 ounce cans) and you’ve got a party. I guarantee it will impress even your friends who brag about their sangria recipes that include brandy, Cointreau and a dozen other ingredients that are completely unnecessary (and expensive).

Simply Sangria
serves 4-6

1 bottle (750ml) of red table wine 
1 12 ounce can of ginger ale
1 15 ounce can of fruit cocktail (not “light”)

Combine all ingredients in a 1.75 – 2 liter bottle or container and stir to mix. Garnish with slices of lemon, orange, or lime.