image courtesy of Beso del Sol
I must confess that I’ve always been a shameless Sangria snob. How could I possibly drink pre-made Sangria when I have such vivid memories of my handsome friend Javier in Spain making homemade Sangria for our weekend fiestas? That was decades ago but I can still picture Javi cutting up mountains of fruit, adding it to wine, and bringing it to life with dashes of other special ingredients to create his masterpiece. Those were the days! But honestly, I have no idea where Javi is and the likelihood of me making Sangria from scratch is pretty slim. So, when I was invited to try Beso del Sol, I decided to set aside my memories of handsome Javi and my pre-conceived notions about ready-to-sip Sangria.
A blend of wine with natural Mediterranean fruit extracts, I have to admit that Beso del Sol, which translates to Kiss of the Sun, is pretty delicious! I particularly like the classic red, made from 100% Spanish Tempranillo grapes blended with lemon, orange, and a touch of cinnamon. Juicy and fruity but not cloyingly sweet, the flavors are beautifully integrated and balanced; it tastes impressively fresh and authentic.
image courtesy of Beso del Sol
The cute 500ml juice box style contains the equivalent of 3 glasses and costs about $5.99. Beso del Sol also makes a 3 liter bag-in-box that contains the equivalent of 4 bottles and comes with a pour spout - that popular option costs about $18.99. A 1.5 liter glass bottle is also available for about $12.99. Available in red, white (100% Spanish Airén grapes blended with lemon, peach, and mango) and rosé (100% Spanish Tempranillo grapes blended with orange, lemon, peach, mango, and a touch of cinnamon), Beso del Sol is a great option for picnics, boat rides, and backyard BBQ’s. Fill a large punch bowl with Beso del Sol, garnish it with some fresh fruit, and your guests will easily be convinced that it's made from scratch; just be sure to keep the empty containers out of sight!
Nothing could ever compete with my memories of handsome Javi's Sangria but Beso del Sol has shown this Sangria snob that it is possible for a ready-to-drink Sangria to be 100% natural, made with integrity, and express the essence of the original.
