Lets kick off the summer with a sweet, refreshing, berry sangria, shall we? This is a red lobster copy cat recipe — there isnt much vegetarian food at Red Lobster restaurants (not that im expecting any!), but I can eat their buttery biscuits and drink their triple berry sangria all day long.

The berries soak up the vodka and wine, and get all boozy and yummy. But dont let the berries sit in the wine too long, they can discolor. You must serve the sangria as soon as youve made it.

La Grange Winery, VA

Virginia’s wine country is nearby; so our summers are filled with wine tasting, winery hopping, and picnics at the vineyards. We bring home lots of wine when we go on there day trips. But I dont use the good wine for sangria. Whatever wine is on sale at the grocery will do.

We collect wines from around the world, but our local favorite is Narmada Winery, VA  which has an Indian touch

 If you prefer, you can use white wine in this sangria recipe. Also, change up the ingredients as you like – orange juice instead of blueberry juice, triple sec or brandy instead of vodka, club soda instead of ginger ale..the possibilities are endless.

Summer Triple Berry Sangria with a hint of Ginger Recipe

makes 1 large pitcher

1 cup strawberries hulled
1 cup blueberries
1 cup raspberries
1 teaspoon sized knob of fresh ginger, peeled and lightly crushed
1 1/2 cups berry flavored vodka (I used Absolut raspberry)
1 1/2 cups berry flavored juice (I used Ocean spray blueberry juice)
1/2 cup sugar or to taste
one 750 ml bottle of red wine (I used Barefoot Merlot)
1-2 cups gingerale
ice cubes
mint sprigs for garnish

In a large pitcher, place the strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, ginger, vodka, fruit juice, and sugar. Mix well. Cover the pitcher and let the berries macerate in the fridge for about 30 minutes. Fish out and discard the ginger piece. Just before serving, stir in the wine, gingerale and ice cubes.

I almost feel bad giving you a recipe for lemonade. I mean, its a no brainer right? Just mix up sugar, lemon juice, and water, thats it. So, to spruce up the humble lemonade, I added some blueberries (and vodka!). The extra tang and brilliant color were fantastic! We loved eating the lemonade soaked blueberies in the end of each glass!

The lemonade will become a stronger color if you let the blueberries sit in the lemonade for a few hours. Use either fresh or frozen blueberries. Other berries would work well too — strawberries, blueberries, huckleberries..yum!  If you are using something with lots of seeds (like raspberries), you may want to puree the fruit and strain the puree before adding it to the lemonade.  

Alcoholic version - Spiked Blueberry Lemonade:  add vodka to this lemonade. You will not be sorry you did!

Blueberry Lemonade Recipe

makes about 8 cups

1 cup sugar
1 cup lemon juice (I used bottled)
6 cups water
1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Place all ingredients in a pitcher and stir till sugar dissolves. Muddle the blueberries a little using the back of a wooden spoon to release their juices and color. Taste and adjust sugar if needed. Serve chilled.

For spiked lemonade – add 1 to 2 cups of vodka (preferably citron flavor) to above recipe.