Episode 10 Sangria and special guest: Rachelle O'Connor

So, on this episode we are live from the Earl of Sussex!! This is our tenth episode and amazing we are still here…thanks to our listeners (Yes, you guys! And my mother). We have a special guest Rachelle O’Connor who is a wine expert and we will be talking about Sangrias. This refreshing drink goes back to the 1700 when water was not safe to drink so why not wine and juice! We get into what the differences are between red and white wines. How this amazing drink has changed over the years! We talk about what you can put into it to serve your guests at home. A cautionary tale that I’m sure all bartenders can relate to…Last Call!! Some cool facts about sangria you might not know (I didn’t).Rachelle’s personal recipe to try: (this makes a batch)• 1 oz brandy or cognac• 1 oz of any orange liqueur, Triple Sec or Grand Marnier (whatever you have on hand)• 1 bottle chilled sparkling wine - Cava or Prosecco• 1 bottle of white wine - I usually use Pinot Grigio• Lemon/lime soda water (to taste)• 7Up or Sprite (to taste - I don't like it to sweet)• orange, lime and lemon wedges and rounds)• A handful of frozen cranberries - they look great in the glass and keep it cool• a few sprigs of mint• Optional: Maple Syrup - 2 tablespoons to sweetenOne of my favorite ones is this recipe:1 oz vodka (flavoured like raspberry or green apple),2 oz Pinot Grigio wine, 0.5 oz apricot brandy, 2 orange juice, 2 oz cranberry juice and top with 7up/sodaCouple of resources for sangria and wine: foodanddrink.ca (recipes and LCBO wine pairings), nataliemaclean.com (Rachelle’s wine reviews and others + blog + newsletter)