Sangria


Sangria ; is an alcoholic beverage originating in Spain and Portugal. Under EU regulations only those two Iberian nations can label their product as Sangria; similar products from different regions are differentiated in name.
A punch, sangria traditionally consists of red wine and chopped fruit, often with other ingredients or spirits.
Sangria is one of the most popular drinks in Spanish cuisine. It is commonly served in bars, restaurants, and chiringuitos, and at festivities throughout Portugal and Spain.

History and etymology

Sangría literally means bloodletting in Spanish. The term sangria used for the drink can be traced back to the 18th century. According to the SAGE Encyclopedia of Alcohol, sangria's origins "cannot be pinpointed exactly, but early versions were popular in Spain, Greece, and England."
Sangaree, a predecessor drink to sangria that was served either hot or cold, likely originated in the Caribbean, and from there was introduced to mainland America, where it was common beginning in the American colonial era but "largely disappeared in the United States" by the early twentieth century. Sangria as an iced drink was reintroduced to the U.S. by the late 1940s through Hispanic Americans and Spanish restaurants, and enjoyed greater popularity with the 1964 World's Fair in New York.

Recipe

Sangria recipes vary wildly even within Spain, with many regional distinctions. The base ingredients are always red wine, and some means to add a fruity or sweeter flavour, and maybe boost the alcohol content.
Traditionally may be mixed with local fruits such as peaches, nectarines, berries, apples, pears, or global fruits such as pineapple or lime, and sweetened with sugar and orange juice. Spanish Rioja red wine is traditional. Some sangria recipes, in addition to wine and fruit, feature additional ingredients, such as brandy, sparkling water, or a flavored liqueur.
Sangria blanca is a more recent innovation. For sangria blanca, Casas recommends dry white wines such as a Rueda, Jumilla, or Valdepeñas.

European Union law protection

Under European Union law, the use of sangria in commercial or trade labeling is now restricted under geographical labeling rules.
The European Parliament approved new labeling laws by a wide margin in January 2014, protecting indications for aromatized drinks, including sangria, Vermouth and Glühwein. Only sangria made in Spain and Portugal is allowed to be sold as "sangria" in the EU; sangria made elsewhere must be labeled as such.
The definition of sangria under European Union law from the 2014 Regulation states that it is an:
The 2014 Regulation also recognises Clarea as an aromatised wine-based drink, which is obtained from white wine under the same conditions as for Sangría. ‘Clarea’ may be used as a sales denomination only when the product is produced in Spain. When the product is produced in other Member States, ‘Clarea’ may only be used to supplement the sales denomination ‘aromatised wine-based drink’, provided that it is accompanied by the words: ‘produced in …’, followed by the name of the Member State of production or of a more restricted region.

Works cited