Witches Brew Sangria
If you live in Michigan, then you probably know that Traverse City is located on the 45th parallel, which means weather conditions are perfect for growing grapes. And where there are grapes, there is wine. One of my favorite parts about living in a state that makes great wine is discovering new favorite wines from all the local wineries around. One that I’ve come to really enjoy during the fall, especially close to Halloween, is Witches Brew from Leelanau Cellars. While the name of it might give it away, it is a spiced wine that you can drink at room temperature, or hot. The bottle hints that warming up the “brew” will enhance the spices and fall flavors in the wine.
I’ve been drinking Witches Brew for a few years now, and I always look forward to drinking it each fall to get into the Halloween spirit. This year I decided to get creative with it and came up with a sangria recipe inspired by the wine. Be warned that this sangria isn’t like your typical Spanish styled drink, due to using the spiced wine as its base. But if you’re looking for a festive drink to help you celebrate the spooky holiday season, look no further. This recipe will spice up any Halloween get together and bring a whole new layer of excitement to the season. So turn on Hocus Pocus, and make a batch of this sweet treat to help you and your friends get into the Halloween spirit this year!
If you’ve never had Witches Brew before, I’ve included the description found on Leelanau Cellar’s website to help give you an idea of what to expect.
“It is our secret wine blend enhanced with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and other natural spices that make this a crowd pleaser and favorite of Leelanau Cellars’ fans. Perfect for entertaining, this wine will explode with intense flavor when served warm but can also be served chilled as an ingredient in sangria. Witches Brew is perfect for campfires, tailgating, or any gathering on a chilly evening.”
INGREDIENTS
- 1 bottle of Witches Brew Spiced Wine
- 1 cup of cranberry juice concentrate
- 2 cups of sparkling apple juice
- ¼ cup of vodka
- ½ cup of granulated sugar
- 1 apple – cubed
- 1 pear – cubed
- 1 plum – sliced
- 2-3 cinnamon sticks
STEPS
1. Open the bottle of spiced wine and pour into a pitcher.
2. Add the cranberry juice, sparkling apple juice, vodka, and sugar to the pitcher with the wine and stir well until sugar is dissolved.
3. Once combined, give it a taste to see if you prefer adding more of any of the ingredients.
4. Chop up the apple, pear, and plum into cubes and add to the sangria and stir.
5. Add a cinnamon stick and let the sangria sit in your fridge to combine flavors until it’s time to serve.
6. Serve cool or warm in wine glasses. Make sure to include some of the fruit into each serving.
7. Optional: Add a cinnamon stick into each glass for decoration and enhanced cinnamon flavor.
Enjoy!
