The best Sangria in Dallas, seriously worth checking!

Alright. So, you want to know about the best Sangria, huh? That’s a tall order my friend, but I guess that’s why they pay me the non-existent big bucks. Right. Sangria. It’s this Spanish drink, stuck somewhere between a punch and a wine cocktail, with fruit thrown in for good measure. It’s been around since forever, not because people had a knack for fruity drinks or something but mostly to make bad wine taste better. Irony of ironies, huh?

These days, it’s taken the world by storm. Well, not the whole world. More like the world of overly enthusiastic social media ‘foodies’ and sunburnt tourists in Barcelona sipping overpriced Sangria in some ‘authentic’ Spanish taverna. Mainly, it’s popular because it’s sweet, it’s fruity, and it packs enough of a punch to knock you into next week if you’re not careful. Plus, it’s customizable. You can add pretty much any fruit or spirit you fancy and proudly declare it your ‘signature’ Sangria recipe. Like cooking, but you know, with more opportunities for day-drinking.

Historical Overview of Sangria

Sigh, when it comes to the history of Sangria, most narratives are as bubbly and fruity as the drink itself. You know, originated in Spain, traditional Spanish homes applauding the summer sun with a wine, fruit, and brandy concoction. But it’s not all as rose-tinted as the nostalgic grandmas of Spain would like you to believe.

The word ‘Sangria’ originally meant ‘bloodletting’, which is a cheerless medical procedure that was as much a fad in ancient times as avocado toast is today. Not the most appetizing connection, I’m sure. The Romans get all the credit for spreading viticulture across the region that would later become Spain and Portugal, probably because wearing togas and sipping Sangria seems a more sophisticated pastime than invading and pillaging land, which was their actual day job.

Then there were those infamous figures, travelers who swore by it, who probably just wanted an excuse to day-drink. Like Ernest Hemingway and Pablo Picasso, both discovered that Sangria, with its punch of wine and splash of fruit, blurs the line between inspiration and inebriation quite gently. But, who are we to judge? If burbling about bulls in Pamplona or painting women with both their eyes on the same side of the face worked for them, you might also find your genius at the bottom of a Sangria pitcher. Or not.

Recipe: The Best Sangria

Yeah, I know, nothing says ‘festive’ quite like ‘fruit-soaked wine.’ You don’t drink it because it tastes good, you drink it because you can convince yourself that the fruit makes it healthy. But hey, if you’re determined to immerse perfectly good grapes in a boozy citrus bath, who am I to stop you? Just remember, the best sangria doesn’t come from a recipe—it comes from lowering your standards. But alright, here is my translation of the ‘Best Sangria’ recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle dry red wine
• 1 lemon (chopped)
• 1 orange (chopped)
• 2 tablespoons sugar (or to your sickly sweet preference)
• 1 shot brandy
• 2 cups ginger ale or club soda

Let’s get this show on the road, shall we?
Preparation:

• Mix together the wine, chopped fruit, sugar, and brandy in a large pitcher. You can chill it at this stage, or if you’re impatient like me, move on to the next step.
• Right before serving, add the ginger ale or club soda, depending on how you want to dilute your pseudo-healthy fruity brew.
• Once you’ve got it all blended, pour it into the biggest, most obnoxious glass you own, because we all know that size really does matter….when it comes to drinkware.

Sangria Wine Spotting in Dallas

So you’ve consented to participate in the time-honored tradition of sipping wine. But not just any wine, Sangria. I mean, if you’re going to do something, do it right, right? However, you’ve obviously got more sense than sense of direction, which is why you need me to point out the most tolerable Sangria-serving establishments in Dallas. Consider it my version of community service.

Sangria Hotspots:

• Name: ‘Cedar Grove’, address: ‘4123 Cedar Springs Rd #110, Dallas.’ Ah, Cedar Grove. They pour more fruit than wine in their sangria, which at least makes it easy to pretend you’re topping up on vitamin C instead of drowning in fermented grape juice.
• Name: ‘The Wild Detectives’, address: ‘314 W 8th St, Dallas.’ This place is a bookstore turned bar, which basically means you can read a book to distract yourself from the horrors that are social interactions. Also, their sangria is decent enough to make you almost forget that it’s not coffee.
• Name: ‘Mercat Bistro’, address: ‘2501 N Harwood St, Dallas.’ Guess what? It’s a French place that serves Spanish wine. But it’s also ultra-hip and the sangria comes with strawberries. So there’s that.

As you sip carefully on your Sangria remember, it’s just wine. Overhyped, overly sweet, fruit infused wine. Cheers!

Consumer Preferences for Sangria

Given the general excitement of the marketplace, one might expect enthusiasm regarding the current changes and variances in Sangria. However, let’s face it–people’s taste buds are as consistent as their Netflix queue. Recently, there has been an infatuation with organic or locally sourced ingredients, as if a wine glass full of ethically-sourced sangria would somehow make up for all the other questionable life choices one might make. Just another proof that people like to pretend they care about where their food comes from, when they barely remember where they parked their car.

If this fascination with ‘eating clean’ wasn’t enough, it seems the spice level of Sangria is the next big thing. Yes, because who doesn’t want to shock their palate with a fiery gust of cinnamon and chili peppers while trying to relax near the pool? If you ask me, spicy is for chicken wings, not for a drink that’s supposed to mellow you out. Anyway, seeing that salsa and chipotle are now considered dessert toppings, it was only a matter of time before someone thought, ‘Hey, what if we could sweat while drinking sangria too?’ Fascinating. Maybe the goal is to completely confuse your taste buds, or to leave them so numbed by spice that they can’t distinguish good Sangria from the bad one anymore.

Dallas' Unconventional Sangria Adventure

When you think of Dallas, you probably think about barbecues, bull riding, maybe the Cowboys – the football team, not the actual horse riders. And of course, your mind meanders to margaritas because well, it’s Texas. But let’s deviate a bit from the norm and navigate our way to an unsung hero of Dallas’ drinks scene – its sangria. Oh, the joy of sipping the ruby concoction, a swirl of fruits dancing in a seemingly endless waltz of flavors.

But if you’re thinking of some sunny patio spot where happy patrons are served glasses of this trendy tipple while a flamenco guitarist strums somewhere in the background, you are about 5000 miles off mark. This is Dallas, partner. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still sangria and it’s bursting with so much fruit that it’ll give your garden salad a run for its money. It is just served with a healthy dose of Texas-sized charm. Click your heels, Dorothy, because this ain’t Spain. Here, the glasses condense in the time it takes to stare at the cattle skulls adorning the walls, the tables covered with checkered cloth and the background score is definitely not an acoustic strumming, but possibly the Texas Rangers game playing on some forgotten television. How’s that for a cultural mishmash?

And the real kicker? This sangria is delicious. Ridiculously, refreshingly, roasted-Texas-summer relieving delicious. It somehow feels authentically Texan and yet unquestionably sangria. And it has me sitting here wondering if Dallas isn’t perhaps the Sangria Capital of the World, a title I’m sure no one else is even fighting for.

Setting Up a DIY Sangria Wine Bar

So you’re thinking about swinging into the world of DIY Sangria bars? Well, let me break it down for you. Start with a quality selection of reds, whites, or rosé wines. Don’t break the bank on this. They’re about to get mixed with a bunch of fruit and no one will know if you picked up a $5 bottle. Then you’ll need some brandy and orange liqueur because… well just because. Stock up on a variety of sodas for mixing – club soda, lemon-lime soda, ginger ale. And yes, I realize we’re just adding empty calories over here, but guess what, it’s a party.

Now, let’s talk about the ‘exciting’ part of your ensemble – toppings and garnishes. Remember, the more color, the better. Get a variety of fruits: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, oranges, lemons, limes. Basically, any fruit that looks good being drowned in wine. Then throw in a dash of herbs to raise the bar, or rather, confuse people into thinking they’re at a real bar. Mint leaves, rosemary, thyme – just please don’t pick it from your backyard because that’s not ‘rustic chic,’ that’s just ‘dirt.’

Now watch your guests throw everything into a glass, resisting the urge to conduct an impromptu chemistry lesson. Just remember, you provided the ingredients for a fun time, what they do with it is completely on them. Happy mixing.

The Best Sangria Wine in Dallas

So let me get this straight, you want to hear a joke about the best Sangria wine in Dallas? Well, okay. This is a place where they make the Sangria out of extra grape skins and leftover barbecue sauce. They say it has a ‘robust flavor,’ and ‘you can really taste the Texas.’ I think what they meant was, ‘we found a way to make alcohol disappointing.’

It’s like saying, ‘These aren’t burnt ends, they’re cajun-style.’ And when you ask for an ice cube in your drink, they give you a frozen jalapeño. The only place where adding fruit to your drink gives it an overall beige tint.

But really, I appreciate you sticking around to the end of my little spiel. I know it can be tough listening to me go on and on, kind of like trying to enjoy that Sangria. Be sure to stop by anytime you’re in desperate need of a dose of sarcasm, or inexplicably find yourself craving Sangria Dallas-style.