Summer Sangria

Summer Sangria 

The lazy days of summer are here which means it’s time to fire up the barbeque, flip some burgers and sip something cooling. Summer Sangria is just what you need.

Growing up we didn’t do a lot of barbequeing but once my big kids were born, I entertained a lot. Living in South Florida, the summer heat can be pretty intense so a refreshing drink becomes a necessity. Sangrias are always terrific for a crowd because you can prepare them in advance and everyone loves picking the fruit out of the bottom of the glass. 

As a general rule, I drink red wines and make red sangrias. However, I was very fortunate to do a CK Mondavi and Family wine tasting with Janice Mondavi whose husband’s grandfather started the winery. There is nothing quite like seeing and tasting the 9 different CK Mondavi and Family wines to open up ones mind to a variety of possibilities. 

I enjoyed the 5 S’s of wine tasting; see, swirl, sniff, sip, savor and was interested to learn about the effort put into all of their wines before they are sold. Every morning there is a ‘tasting’ meeting at the vineyard. If one of the wines does not meet its expectations, it is tabled for another day, allowing for the possibility that the tastebuds of one of the key tasters may be off that particular day. 

I think that is a perfect example of why CK Mondavi and Family continues to thrive as the fourth generation begins their careers in the family industry. The commitment to excellence while delivering wines affordable to Americans is most definitely part of all of their stories and fulfills the life long dream of founders Cesare and Rosa Mondavi. CK Mondavi and Family wines are the first and only wines to be 100% “Made in USA Certified®”. The pride and dedication of this company is always evident.

I know, I know….I digressed from my Summer Sangria but, truly, there are so many tidbits I want to share with you about my time with Janice and CK Mondavi and Family’s story! I guess it’s not difficult for you to understand why I am honored to be a CK Mondavi and Family Brand Ambassador. 

So, about Summer Sangria. I received bottles of CK Mondavi and Family’s merlot, cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay for this burger pairing promotion. In the past, I would have used one of the two reds but I tasted the chardonnay and found that the description on the newly redesigned label “BRIGHT & FRESH” was perfect for my drink.

I pitted the cherries in a gallon size plastic storage bag while wearing gloves. All of the flying juices as well as the pit stayed in the bag and my hands were not a lovely shade of red for a week. I did not cut my cherries into small pieces but don’t hesitate to do so if that is your preference. 

I also made pretty ice cubes by placing a raspberry and blackberry into each cup of the ice cube trays before adding water and freezing. It doesn’t take a lot of time to do and the final presentation is lovely. Just be sure to add the ice cubes to the pitcher at the last minutes so you do not dilute your Summer Sangria.

CK Mondavi is doing summer in-store promotions for burgers, buns, cheese and charcoal. Look for these wherever you find CK Mondavi and Family wines. Be sure to check out the brand new labels. In addition to the wine descriptions (which makes it SO much easier to identify the perfect wine for the occasion), the founder, Cesare Mondavi, is featured in a gold seal on the front of each bottle.

I think it’s about time we all made a batch of Summer Sangria. Don’t you agree?