Sunday, January 31, 2010
Food, Wine, Beer & Spirits, Recipes

Fresh and fruity

Savida Sangria makes a splash

Photos/The Reynolds Group

My favorite thing about Savida Sangria is that it really captures the sophisticated simplicity of its Latin roots. The name comes from savor and the Spanish term vida (meaning life). Savida Sangria encourages drinkers to relax, enjoy and savor life. It’s available in both red and white versions, and it blends premium California wine with all-natural juice.

Almost all homemade recipes call for up to one cup of sugar, but Savida Sangria keeps the cocktail light with no added sugar. It’s the perfect blend of flavor and sweetness. I wanted to make enjoying sangria at home as easy as possible, which gave me the idea for the homemade sangria in a bottle.

Savida Sangria is easy to prepare, which makes it good for entertaining. Pairing Savida Sangria with food is easy. Both the red and white versions are food-friendly and work well with almost any dish. Just relax and serve it with what you think tastes best.

To really impress your guests, add personal touches to the drink. I’ve included my favorite fruit additions to give you some ideas, but the possibilities are endless. I’ll share some of my secrets to make sure you have your best sangria experience.

When purchasing the fruits, I always recommend using fruits that are in season, which ensures they are fresh and reasonably priced. Buying fresh, in-season fruit is more important than where you shop. Remember this tip when preparing your sangria so the drink will be full of flavor.
Some people prefer to have pulp in their drink. However, I think it really enhances the presentation of the drink to include chunks or slices of fruit. It’s more visually appealing, and your guests will be able to identify all of the fresh fruits in the recipe. It takes away the mystery and adds to the enjoyment.

Quality is the key if you decide to add liquor to the drink. Also, keep in mind that the spirits must complement the flavors of the other ingredients, not compete with them. Stay away from heavily flavored liquors. My personal favorites to add are rum, brandy or vodka.

For glassware, let the atmosphere or type of event be your guide. A traditional wine glass makes a nice impression, but a stemless wine glass or a regular cocktail glass works, too. SP
Jay Tremonte is the founder and president of Maven Brands LLC. Savida Sangria is sold at Parish Food & Goods, and Whole Foods Market, among other retail locations.
www.savidasangria.com.

Savida Sangria Fruit Salad Cocktail

Ingredients:

Red version:

• 1 bottle red Savida Sangria
• 2 blood oranges, sliced into rings
• 1 gala apple, diced
• 1 pear, diced
• 10 strawberries, halved lengthwise
• 1 sage sprig

White version:

• 1 bottle white Savida Sangria
• ½ pint kumquats, halved
• 2 kiwi fruit, cut into rings
• 1 green apple, diced

Instructions:
For red or white versions: Combine all of the ingredients in a large pitcher. If adding sage, keep it aside until moments before serving. Refrigerate the drink for 1 to 4 hours. Savida Sangria is best served over ice. For added style, use a slice of fruit on the edge of the glass as a garnish. When serving, make sure to add plenty of fruit to each glass. Relax, take a sip, and savor life!