Seems like just yesterday I was working on perfecting my fall sangria. Now here it is the beginning of winter and I’ve perfected a sangria to fit the season. Admittedly, here in Southern California it’s more like a chilly version of summer than a “real winter”. But I celebrate it nonetheless with seasonal sangria and sip it pretending to see snow on the ground.
As I say every season, the key to excellent sangria is ripe seasonal fruits. This year I chose clementines and persimmons. Because they’re in season, they’re relatively easy to find at your local grocery market. I happen to have a farmer’s market close to me but if you don’t and can’t find persimmons at your local market, Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods will definitely have a nice selection.
Clementine Persimmon Sangria
1 bottle Nero d’Avola (or a full bodied red wine)
1 cup Orangecello (or Cointreau)
4 Persimmons peeled and sliced
8 Clementines peeled and segmented
2 Meyer lemons juiced
1 cup orange juice
1/3 cup agave nectar
Muddle the persimmons and clementines in a large pitcher, then add the wine and orangecello (or other orange liqueur). Let sit in the refrigerator for about an hour. Take the pitcher out and stir in Meyer lemon juice, orange juice and agave nectar. Taste for sweetness, you may add more orange juice or agave nectar, if desired.
Your sangria will last up to a week in your refrigerator, but I’m sure you’ll drink it well before then!
About countessrose
SIP.WATCH.TWEET™
Born and bred New Yorker I now reside in the Los Angeles area. I was a debutante at age 18, Countess at 30, and despite having a bachelors degree in law, I ditched that profession and became a certified wine sommelier. Certified by both WSET Level 4 and the Court of Masters. I am a self-proclaimed connoisseur of California Zinfandel and all Primitivo. Although an actual Italian wine specialist I have an ongoing love affair with Sauternes and insist it’s an aphrodisiac. I’m serious about wine but don’t take wine seriously.
I started a wine tasting company, Vino CaPisco [loosely translated in Italian means, I understand wine] in 2004 and began private in-home wine tastings for those who wanted a fun way to learn about wine. We made Sopranos Sangiovese Lovers, Sex and the Bubbly, etc themed tastings. I did that successfully and happily, until I found an urge to cover more than wine. To learn, experience and discover spirits and cocktails around town...and beyond.
An occasional wine blogger for Wine Portfolio and Wine Library, I happened upon pairing wine and spirits with television shows and film in 2009 but I've recently began taking it on the road. Drinking and tweeting (and instagramming) from hotels, bars, speakeasys... I'm not a mixologist or bartender, I don't purport to have an education in cocktails or been to bar tending school. But I've been a certified sommelier since 2002 and a cocktail enthusiast and self-taught cocktail connoisseur seriously since 2012. I check out hotel bars, speciality bars, and local favorites. I talk to the mixologists/bartenders, get them to make me an original "off menu" cocktail and then give that recipe to you. If it fits, I'll also pair if with a T.V. show and tweet about it...Sometimes with a drinking game to match.
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