French Sangria?? We hear you say, well we call it that because we learned the recipe on the Brittany Ferries MV Cap Finistere. It is expensive, even in Spain, so we only make it on high days and holidays, well only Christmas actually.

Quantities and Ingredients

2 - litres Red Wine, Reserva/Gran Reserva is to “oaky” use cheap plonk.
12grms - Sugar
1/2 bottle - Brandy, you can use rum but if you do use Desaronno instead of Cointreau.
1/2 bottle Cointreau.
2 Vanilla Pods split in half.
1.1/2 teaspoons Cinnamon
3 Large Oranges
2 Apples
Lots of seasonal fruit - strawberries, raspberries, etc.
1/4 litre Lemonade

In a large bowl mix the wine, brandy, Cointreau, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon. Cut the fruits into cubes and add to the mix (but note that soft fruits should NOT be cut and added till just before serving), cover and place bowl in fridge for three days.

Immediately prior to serving add the soft fruits and chilled lemonade. Serve CHILLED.

We have trouble keeping it in the fridge for that long and can’t see why we need to drown it with all that lemonade :-)