Summer Fruit & Mint Sangria: Date Night Recipe

Summer has always been my favorite season. I'm cold natured, so I thoroughly enjoy warmer temperatures (I did move to Arizona of all places, remember?) which is one reason summer has always been my top pick of seasons. I also love the ability to be outside and do things like eat on the patio at a restaurant or go on a picnic. When Steven and I were in our pre-marriage counseling, one of our mandatory date nights ended up being a picnic at the botanic gardens. I've always been a huge fan of tapas style meals, especially since I usually get hungry in between regular meals. So a picnic is the perfect solution for a summer date night for us. I decided to make this fun, zesty and citrus packed sangria recipe using Fre Alcohol-Removed Wine.

Sangrias are always fun drinks to make because they are so versatile. Essentially you can throw whatever fruits you have on hand into a pitcher and top with wine and you're good to go! There are tons of varieties that you can make and I love relying on flavor combinations that just sound good on the day that I'm making a batch of sangria!

This particular recipe features Fre Red Blend Alcohol Removed Wine that is perfect for those who may not be able to drink alcohol or choose to abstain from it. It's perfect for summer when fruity and fun drinks are definitely in season. Sometimes if you don't drink alcohol you may feel a little left out from having a pretty drink around, so that's where this alcohol removed sangria comes in handy!

Through the de-alcoholization process of producing Fre, less than one half of one percent of alcohol remains in the wine, so these wines make the perfect base for lots of mocktail recipes.

I love the idea of spending some quality time with Steven and getting to be outside. Our quality time seems to be precious these days now that he's back to working during the day. To create your own picnic, you need a few board games (we chose a solitaire game- think the peg game at Cracker Barrel- and cribbage), some snacks (cheese, crackers, meats and dried fruit work perfectly) and a perfect drink to go with everything. Don't forget a blanket and tray if you need somewhere sturdy for things to sit!

If you taste the sangria and it isn't quite sweet enough, you can add a spoonful of sugar per glass and stir it in before serving!

This fun date night idea is perfect for any time of year when it's warm enough to sit outside and perfect for anyone who may not be able to drink alcohol, too. It can also be used to pair with a snack or dinner recipe as well!