PARTY EVANGELIST’S RED WINE SANGRIA

For every bottle of red wine (we typically use an inexpensive Spanish red from Trader Joe’s called La Granja), add one cup fresh-squeezed orange juice, half cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice and one half to two thirds cup simple syrup (equal parts water and sugar heated until the sugar dissolves, then cooled). Garnish with fresh fruit: apples, grapes, orange segments, etc. Serves 3-4 people. For a larger group, multiply accordingly!

Make the sangria two to three days ahead and stir it several times a day. This is the biggest factor in its success–TIME FOR THE FLAVORS TO MELD. Personally, I think fresh juices work better than bottled or pasteurized versions but that’s just a Party Evangelist preference. It can be made with regular orange and lemon juices!

I found this recipe on the Internet many years ago (cannot remember where); we’ve been making it since 1998 and it’s practically foolproof!