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Summer Party Season And Sangria With Barefoot Wine

 AD -This is a collaboration with Barefoot Wine 


The summer is finally upon us in the UK. I did wonder if it was ever going to arrive, but finally, it's hot and sunny here!

To celebrate the beautiful weather, I held a summer party in the garden with family and friends, well, you have to make the most of life, don't you!? 

Planning a summer party is always fun and I am lucky enough to have the most amazing mother-in-law Anne who always helps when we have family get-togethers and makes some fantastic party food. We decided to go for a summer picnic theme with fresh colourful salads, amazing free-range dry cure ham and a selection of delicious bread. Anne has a beautiful garden and the weather was fantastic so we held it there. But what to drink, you may ask?

Me with Sangria

I decided to make a sangria as it is a fantastic summer drink. This fruity alcoholic concoction always means summer in a glass to me.  So what is sangria?

Sangria is a popular Spanish and Portuguese punch traditionally made with red wine, fresh fruit, and often a touch of brandy or other spirit. Originating from Spain, it typically includes ingredients like oranges, lemons, apples, and berries. Sometimes it's mixed with sparkling soda and other times it's just left as it is. It's an easy drink to make and this vibrant, fruity drink is commonly served chilled, making it a favourite at summer gatherings and festive occasions. There are many variations, including white sangria made with white wine, and even sparkling sangria using cava or prosecco.

Marcus with Sangria

So I trawled the internet and adapted a version for our summer garden party. My version of the sangria below leaves out the sparking wine or soda and has a fruity alcoholic kick. I also used Cointreau instead of brandy as I love the orange flavour. So here is my version of sangria using red Zinfandel from Barefoot Wine.

Sangria Recipe


350ml of Barefoot Wine red Zinfandel 
200ml orange juice
200ml Cointreau or brandy
1 apple, washed, cored and chopped
1 orange washed and thinly sliced
1/2 small punnet strawberries, washed, hulled and sliced
1 lemon, washed and thinly sliced

Method

Place the wine, orange juice and Cointreau in a large jug, and add the fruit. Stir it and place it in the fridge to chill.

This drink is best drunk after the fruit has soaked up the alcohol and fruit juice adds to the delicious flavour. Sangria is best served cold, but if you can't wait, it's perfectly fine to drink it straight away.

Why Barefoot Wine?


Barefoot Wine sent me two bottles of their red Zinfandel to make this sangria and, to be honest, although any red wine will do, their red Zinfandel was delicious, and I'm not just saying that. It's a rich smooth red wine with rich berry flavours of raspberries and a cherry richness. This complemented the strawberries and other fruit I added to the sangria perfectly.

sangria

The sangria was easy to throw together too and makes a really spectacular summer drink when you have friends and family get-togethers. 

Zinfandel

The brand, Barefoot Wine, originated in California in 1968 and has been a popular choice of wine worldwide since. They sell a range of white, red, rose and sparkling wine and their wine has won over 10,000 medals for quality over this time. You have probably seen it on the supermarket shelves, as many of the major supermarkets and Off Licences sell it in the UK. You can get it in Tesco, Sainsbury, and Morrisons. Bargain Booze, Spa and One Stop for example.  It's a fun wine brand that has affordable delicious options for wine drinkers everywhere. 

You can explore more about the Barefoot Wine red Zinfandel on this link. 

Me and Sean drinking Sangria



family drinking sangria

And the verdict of the sangria? Let's just say the two bottles of red Zinfandel made a lot of sangria that day! 

Check out more about Barefoot Wine on their summer hub here https://www.barefootwine.co.uk/barefoot-summer-hub

Of course, always ensure you drink responsibly and don't drink and drive. If you are drinking alcohol, drink plenty of water too. Assign a designated driver and know your limits.

Let me know, which is your favourite summer cocktail? Do you love sangria as much as I do?


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Outfit Ideas For A Garden Party

With the events of the last year in mind, it’s likely that a lot of us will be invited to more and more garden parties in the coming years. Whether it’s a laid-back barbecue or something more formal, it’s important to know how to dress for an outdoor event like a garden party. Today, we’re checking out ideas from the casual to the elaborate for all outdoor events you’re likely to face.

Prim and Proper

couple party


When you’re going to something formal, you want to look the part, even if it’s an outdoor event. You can go two directions here, either masculine or feminine. In either direction, you’ll find that tailored clothes with structured shapes will work best for you.

We’ll start with the feminine direction.

Here, you want the classics. You can go for a structured dress that fits close to your body, keeping it cool with darker colours and fine details like piping and a slimline belt around the waist. Equally, try something that’s both light and bright by pairing a fitted top with a colourful knee-length skirt. When you’re bringing out the bold patterns and bright colours, you can stray from the close-fitting tailoring and venture into more free-flowing fabrics. Silks blouses and maxi-length skirts are the way to stay formal whilst bringing an element of fun to your look.

These typically feminine looks are best suited to some traditional jewellery that emphasises the silhouette of the ensemble. Vintage jewellery is a good starting point, whether it’s inherited or bought because it brings a sense of story and life to your aesthetic. A pearl strand, for example, stays current (pearls are having a big revival) whilst harkening back to some Americana 1950s dream of a garden party.

Now for the more masculine side of female garden party attire.

Believe it or not, free-flowing fabric is also welcome in this category. Rather than a maxi skirt, palazzo trousers or culottes can bring some relaxed-fit energy to your otherwise formal style. If you’re less interested in that and want something more architectural and structured, a suit is a perfect solution. Women’s suits are easy to make as formal or casual as is required, simply through shoes and accessories. If you’re worried that a blazer and some formal trousers might be too ‘business’ for a party, pair it with some playful accessories and shoes that you wouldn’t wear to the office.

You can also make a suited look more party-ready through your choice of colour. On a sunny day, you can break out a white suit, or perhaps a powder blue or peachy pink number. Keep the colouring pale, on the pastel side of things, and you can ensure that you are a sight for sore eyes and not an eyesore.

But what about casual events?

Languid and Laid-back

couple

If your garden party is more of a Hawaiian-shirt/barbecue/sunglasses event, then you shouldn’t feel obligated to break out the fascinator and silk gloves from the depths of your wardrobe. Instead, think about a comfortable style that will have you looking chic without looking like you stumbled into the wrong garden.

One easy way to combine glamour and comfort is through the miracle that is the bodysuit. It may require a little forethought when it comes to knowing when to go to the loo, but overall, the pros massively outweigh the cons with bodysuits and playsuits. Hot weather calls for a shorter playsuit-style one-piece. Go bright and bold with the colours and patterns, pair with some wedge shoes, sunglasses, and a cute summery hat and you’re in the money. Full-length bodysuits will see you through a cloudy-looking sky whilst still having a suitably summer-ready aesthetic. Bright colours and patterns remain the best option for something like this, keeping it playful and light-hearted.

Another option for the garden party without a dress code is a classic shorts and t-shirt combo. High-waisted denim shorts combined with a plain white tee could not be more casual and cool. Ray-Ban style sunglasses and a baseball cap or snapback raise the cool metre even higher, for an outfit that will tell everyone in the vicinity that you are the definition of ‘chill’. Try a t-shirt with slash designs – or simply cut into one you’re happy to ‘renovate’ – if you want to add more edge and be the alternative punk of your friend group.

We love seeing our friends, especially after a year of more isolated living, and a garden party is the best environment to show off some new pieces in your wardrobe while you catch up with those you love most. Enjoy partying!

*Collaborative post
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