Summertime is full of outdoor activities, with family and friends enjoying the season. Why not share a refreshing beverage? When mixed with fresh seasonal fruits, you can’t go wrong. I was told by someone from Madrid, “This is the best Sangria I ever had!” A great sangria's secret is ripe fruit and a good rosé.

George Hirsch’s Rosé Sangria

Makes eight glasses

chefgeorgehirsch.com | George Hirsch Lifestyle

1 bottle of Rosé wine

1/3 cup brandy

1/3 cup Cointreau or Grand Marnier

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

2-4 Tablespoons pure cane sugar

2 peaches, peeled, pitted, and diced

1/2 cup sliced strawberries

1/2 cup blueberries

Just before serving, add:

2 cups club soda

Garnish with fresh lemon verbena or mint

Combine all ingredients except soda in a large glass container or sangria pitcher. Chill in the refrigerator overnight. Immediately before serving, add 1 cup of ice, and stir the club soda. Ladle or pour into chilled glasses, garnish with a slice of fresh peach, a sprig of verbena, and serve.

Sold out

13 EPISODES on 4 HD-DVD Disk Set, season one

$19.95

Gather 'Round the Grill Cookbook, Vintage (new)

$50.00

George Hirsch Living it UP! cooking & lifestyle book

$24.95

Tinto from the way that red wine is made. During wine production, the skins of red grapes tint the white must until it turns into a red color. That's why the Spanish refer to it as vino tinto—not vino rojo.

Summer has arrived; the sunshine is more than welcome. With Memorial Day almost here, there are bound to be many backyard grills sizzling. Need an idea beyond the burger? Try my home run BBQ Pork Slider.

What beverages should you serve with BBQ?

An excellent local microbrew may do just fine. But what wines go best with BBQ? Well, there is no absolute rule, drink what you enjoy. But, to keep it festive and refreshing, why not mix a light Rioja from Spain with a bit of fruit, fruit juice, and sugar or simple syrup. This is aka Sangria.

I was first courted by Rioja back in my college days. It's an inexpensive wine; it suited my palate and culinary school budget but greatly complements highly seasoned and flavorful foods. Maybe it wasn’t my budget at all. Perhaps I would like to say Rioja. Go ahead, say it, Ree-OH-ha. Again, Ree-OH-ha. Now say - would you like some Sangria made with Ree-OH-ha? See how much fun that was to say! But it's even more fun to drink!

Always use a good dry red wine like Rioja, naturally sweet fresh fruit, and flavorful juice. Feel free to use any variety of fresh fruits. You may have to adjust the sweetness according to your own preference and the sweetness of the fruit you use. A must is to macerate the fruit in the wine for 24 hours in the refrigerator and serve ice-cold.

Sangria

Makes 8 glasses

chefgeorgehirsch.com | George Hirsch Lifestyle

1 bottle Rioja dry red wine

1/3 cup brandy

1/3 cup Cointreau or Grand Marnier

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup fresh orange juice

1 sweet apple, diced

1 pear, diced

1 lemon, sliced into rounds

1 orange, sliced into rounds

1 lime, sliced into rounds

2 peaches, peeled, pitted, and diced

2-4 Tablespoons Turbinado sugar, Sugar in the Raw

Just before serving, add:

2 cups Strawberries, sliced

2 cups club soda; or lemon-lime soda

In a large glass container or sangria pitcher, combine all ingredients except strawberries and soda. Chill in the refrigerator overnight. Immediately before serving, stir the strawberries and club soda. Ladle or pour into chilled glasses and serve.

Sold out

13 EPISODES on 4 HD-DVD Disk Set, season one

$19.95