Drinks

Macanese Sangria

This Macanese Sangria is a tribute to one I had in Macao. The bold flavor of red wine combines with Stirrings mixers, juices, and liquors to make a smooth drink. It’s perfect on a hot day or a holiday party with friends.

A pitcher and two glasses of Macanese Sangria viewed from the top.  The pitcher is in the lower left corner of the photograph. There are two orange sections and finely diced green apple floating in the dark raspberry colored liquid. There is a glass of sangria in the upper center of the photograph and one in the middle right. Both glasses are filled with the dark rapberry colored liquid and both have diced green apples floating on top. Each glass is garnished with an orange slice.

I visited Macao about a year ago. I wasn’t sure what to expect since I was going for a conference. It’s a small  island that’s known for its casinos. I’m not much of a gambler but I do like history. Macao was a Portuguese colony and it’s semi-independent from China.

Our host graciously offered a walking tour of the old city. It’s an interesting mix of Portuguese and Chinese influences. You’ll see ancient Chinese shrines nestled in between Mediterranean houses, European style gardens and squares surrounded by Chinese shops. I was surprised by the amount of green space in this densely populated country.

Two champagne flutes filled with deep red raspberry colored Macanese Sangria. The top of the liquid in each glass is covered with diced green apples. Each glass is garnished with a round slice of orange.

One stop on our tour was a place that’s famous for their sangrias. We sat at the bar so we could watch the bar tender make them. I counted types of liquor added to the wine and lost track around 20. I expected something brutally harsh but the flavors blended really well in a smooth drink that wasn’t too potent.

Stirrings Mixers is having a contest to make a holiday drink using their mixers. I thought this might be a good excuse to recreate the Macanese Sangria since I’m actually not much of a drinker. I like red wine with a meal and a good margarita on a hot day. This is the first time I’ve created a mixed drink of my own.

A pitcher and two glasses of Macanese Sangria sit on a white tablecloth. The view is from a 45 degree angle above the table. The pitcher and champagne glasses are filled with a deep raspberry colored liquid. The tops of the liquid are covered in diced green apple. There are two circles of orange floating in the pitcher and each champagne glass is garnished with a round of orange as well.

I used Stirrings Simple Cosmopolitan and Stirrings Simple Peach Bellini mixers. The Simple Cosmopolitan has cranberry and key lime juice. They add some tartness to the sangria. The Simple Peach Bellini is a peach and orange juice combination that gives the Macanese Sangria a smooth taste.

Since Stirrings mixers are available nationwide, you can easily find them at a store near you. I found them at Specs here in Texas but they’re also available at 1st Colony Liquors, Total Wines & More, 34 Wine & Liquors, 6S Spirits, ABC Liquors, and 82 Liquor.

The top view of a pitcher of Macanese sangria. There are two orange rounds and finely diced green apple floating in the dark raspberry colored liquid.

This recipe makes enough for a small party. The servings at the bar were large – about 8 ounces. This makes about 6 servings.

Yield: 5 ¾ cups

Macanese Sangria

The top view of a pitcher of Macanese sangria. There are two orange rounds and finely diced green apple floating in the dark raspberry colored liquid.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 cups bold red wine (I used Cabernet and this is about 1 bottle of wine)
  • ¼ cup grapefruit liquor
  • ¼ cup brandy
  • ¼ cup dark rum
  • ¼ cup Stirrings Simple Peach Bellini Mixer
  • ¼ cup Stirrings Simple Cosmopolitan Mixer
  • ¾ cup sparkling apple juice
  • ¾ cup orange juice
  • 1 medium green apple, diced
  • 1 large orange, sliced into rounds

Instructions

Put wine in a pitcher and mix in all the other liquid ingredients. Garnish with sliced oranges and diced green apples. Serve chilled.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 234Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 8mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 2gSugar: 14gProtein: 1g

Nutrition information is provided as a guide only. Please consult a dietician for specific dietary needs

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