National Sangria Day

The story

Sangria is a wine punch from Spain and Portugal, traditionally made with red wine, chopped fruit, a sweetener, and often a splash of brandy or orange liqueur. Its name comes from "sangre," the Spanish word for blood, a nod to its deep red color. Mixing wine with fruit, spices, and water goes back centuries in the Iberian Peninsula, when it was a practical way to make wine safer and more pleasant to drink.

Americans got their first big taste of sangria at the 1964 World's Fair in New York, where the Spanish pavilion served it to crowds of visitors. It soon became a party favorite across the country. Since 2014, European Union rules have reserved the name "sangria" for drinks made in Spain and Portugal, while similar punches made elsewhere must use a different label.

Recipes vary widely. Classic sangria uses Spanish red wine such as Tempranillo or Garnacha with oranges, lemons, and apples, while sangria blanca uses white wine, and modern versions add berries, peaches, sparkling water, or cava. The fruit soaks for a few hours so its flavor blends with the wine.

On National Sangria Day, mix a pitcher with your favorite fruit and share it with friends.