Mother Nature is toying with me this year. She snapped her fingers and BAM – overnight, literally, it was fall. After a couple of weeks, I resigned myself to the fact that the summer weather was gone for good and then BAM! Suddenly it was back up to 80 degrees. Dang, Mother Nature! Enough with the weather whiplash!
But then I cooled off (and chilled out) with some of this Ginger Pear White Sangria. A cool sipper perfectly appropriate for weather that’s on the warmer side, but full of fall fruit and warm autumn spices.
I forgive you, Mother Nature. I forgive you. This time.
I am into sangria. Like, way into sangria. Possibly a little too much into sangria. But sangria man! It’s delicious! Fruity, festive, fun to drink with friends.
Sangria. Is there anything it can’t do? Change the weather, I guess.
Yes, I love sangria. And I love fall flavors. And pumpkin sangria is NOT happening. I’ve been giving in to the temptation to pumpkin-up most all the things, but If I ever go there, you have permission to smack me. Verbally, at least.
So this year’s fall sangria (it’s an annual thing, I guess), is full of juicy ripe pears and flavored with spicy fresh ginger. It’s got a few slices of lemon studded with some cloves here and there, just to give it a little more oomph and fall flavor.
And then we’ve got two other types of alcohol on board – rum, because I pretty much always add rum to my sangria. Great reason, right? And also a splash of brandy. Because brandy and pears are natural buds. So it works.
The real kickers here are twofold: 1) You top off the wine and fruit with ginger beer. Not any wimpy ginger ale, mind, although honestly, ginger ale will probably still taste good. But try to find some ginger beer, the extra zesty stuff if you can. And 2) A subtle little gingered sugar rim. A little touch of spicy sweetness for when you get tired of fiddling with your cute straws and just want to go to town on this stuff already.
Ripe pears, ginger x 3, and alcohol.
Weather, schmeather. I suddenly don’t care.