Summer Sangria

Enjoy a glass of this Summer Sangria at the end of a hot summer day.  It’s so refreshing and full of summer fruit. 

Summer Sangria

Fresh, sweet and delicious.

Equipment: Large Pitcher or Large Measuring Cup (8 cup), Small Saucepan, Fine Mesh Strainer, Juicer (optional) or Blender

• 1 bottle organic white wine, chilled


• 1 ½ cups fresh organic watermelon juice*


• 1 cup sparkling water, filtered water or mineral water


• ½ cup lemon verbena simple syrup, recipe follows


• 1 organic lemon, thinly sliced


• 1 organic peach, peeled, thinly sliced


• 1 organic nectarine, thinly sliced


• 1 cup organic green grapes


• 15 lemon verbena leaves


• Crushed ice

1.     In a large pitcher or large measuring cup, combine organic white wine, watermelon juice, sparkling water and lemon verbena simple syrup. 

2.    Add sliced lemons, sliced peaches, sliced nectarines, grapes and lemon verbena leaves.  Gently stir to combine.

3.    Fill glasses with crushed ice and pour the sangria over the top.  Serve immediately. 

Yield:  Makes about 9 cups. 

Lemon Verbena Simple Syrup

• 1 cup honey or unrefined sweetener


• 1 cup filtered water


• 2 tablespoons lemon verbena leaves

1.     In a small saucepan, combine honey, water and lemon verbena.  Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer for 10 minutes. 

2.    Remove pan from heat.  Cool for about 20 minutes.

3.     Strain through fine mesh strainer. 

Yield: Makes about ½ cup Simple Syrup. 

Note: Use whatever fruit is in season.  Berries, plums and cherries would be lovely in this as well.  *If you don’t have a juicer to make the fresh watermelon juice, a blender will work just as well (it breaks down easily because of the high water content).  You can also remove the Sparkling Water and substitute with more fresh watermelon juice.  
Non-Alcoholic Version: Remove the White Wine and substitute with Sparkling Water. 

Tip: This is fabulous the next day too.  Make a batch up the day before if you'd like, the flavors really come together, it's even sweeter the next day.  

Please drink responsibly and do NOT drink and drive.  

This post is part of Mangia Mondays @ Delightfully Dowling, Melt in Your Mouth Monday @ Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms, Recipe Sharing Monday @ Jam Hands, Made By You Monday @ Skip To My Lou, Tuesdays At The Table @ All the Small Stuff, Tasty Tuesday @ Nap Time Creations, Good & Tasty Tuesday @ Stay At Home Babe, Turning the Table Thursday @ Around My Family Table, and Seasonal Sunday @ Real Sustenance.