LAST UPDATED: July 11, 2018 • FIRST PUBLISHED: February 23, 2014 By Toni Dash 4 Comments

A few weeks back we had a four day weekend for President’s Day. Thursday night my kids and I spontaneously decided to pop in on one of our favorite neighborhood haunts for an early bite to eat to kick off the break. On their menu was a featured Sangria. For those who are unfamiliar with Sangria, it is a simple wine punch of sorts infused with fruit originating in Spain. To me it’s always refreshing and a wonderful middle ground between drinking wine straight and having a cocktail.

As happens for me with Sangria, I don’t make it often (because when making a batch it lasts in our refrigerator for a few weeks having a small sip daily usually in the summer) but when I’m out and have it I always am reminded how much I like it. Traditionally it is made with red wine, such as a Rioja, which was so for the Sangria I had that particular evening.

After coming home with lingering warm memories of the Sangria, I decided to make a batch myself. Usually I’ve made it during the seasonal height of fruit availability in the summer or early fall however I’ve been constantly parched this cold, windy winter leaving me to crave citrus fruits all the time it seems.

I’m always drawn to produce that is novel or seasonally short lived in availability. Winter is traditionally the harvest season for citrus. As you have probably noted common citrus fruits such as lemons and limes may be found year round now though the more exotic species are popping up now and will begin to disappear in April and May.

Blue plate of Winter Citrus slices — Top Row left to right: Persian Limes (regular limes), Kumquats, Meyer Lemons. Middle row, left to right: Cara Cara oranges, Clementines or Cuties, Heirloom navel orange. Bottom: Blood Oranges

A few years ago Blood Oranges which were once almost unheard of the U.S. have grown to be fairly common at this time of year. I love their mottled orange and purple skin, and of course the deep red flesh and claret-hued juice. I find them to have some pine notes in the smell of their flesh. Another favorite of mine are Cara Cara oranges which I discovered a few years ago. Again boasting a deep red flesh, Cara Cara’s are a cross between a South American and Washington navel orange producing a sweet and low acidic orange. The color is irresistible.

Meyer Lemons are growing in popularity as well. Smaller than a traditional lemon, with darker yellow aromatic skin, with a sweeter, less acidic fruit. Originally the Meyer Lemon was believed to be produced as a hybrid between a lemon and either navel or mandarin orange.

Anyone with kids or too lazy to be bothered with peeling more resistant citrus will know of the Cutie or Clementine. Another fortuitous cross between mandarin and sweet orange, the Clementine is seedless and easy to peel, feeling to be the kissing cousin to the Tangerine. They are a perfect snack food and have a light, sweet flavor.

The list of citrus is really endless with all the new species and hybrids hitting the market. The core four, grapefruit, orange, lemons and limes, have found good company in the expanded array of options to try at this time of year. I was very excited to combine many of them into a Winter Citrus White Sangria creating a refreshing, brightly flavored sangria to whet the palate and brighten the chill of this long winter!