Photo by Caitlin Bensel
Ancient Romans started doctoring their water with wine, fruit and spices to make proto-sangria as early as 200 B.C.E., but sangria slushies are a thoroughly modern invention. Like frosé, frozen sangria slushies are a blended cocktail made of wine, fruit and ice, with infinite possibilities for customization.
The primary ingredient is wine, so choose your bottle with care.
“The wine dictates the flavor of the sangria,” says Tamika Hall, author of Black Mixcellence and a community programming manager. “Personally, I like to make my sangria with a light, fruity Rioja…For me, the Rioja complements the flavor of the fruit.”
Zohna Jones, a cocktail curator, wine influencer and educator, reaches for Merlots and Pinot Noirs when she wants to make a light, fruity sangria, and Cabernet Sauvignon when she’s craving a richer, heavier drink. All will work, she says, it simply depends on your palate and predilections.
Price is another consideration. While you want to like the taste of the wine in your sangria slushie, you will be adding ice, fruit and juices, so this isn’t the time to break out a bottle with a lot of financial or sentimental value.
