Hola everyone:

Growing up in a family of wine drinkers, my dad always taught me that you don’t have to spend more than $10 in order to get a great bottle of wine. That advice remains close to my heart, especially as someone who imports and presents wines everyday. But I will add one caveat to my dad’s opinion: it’s true that you do not have to spend more than $10 to get a great bottle of wine, but if the importer or producer does their job right, most wines under $10 a bottle will not have the same complexity or finish than a wine that runs for $15 or more. It is my opinion that wines in the $15 or higher price range should have a noticeably different complexity and finish than a wine that perhaps costs $8.

The lesson here is that great wines definitely can run for less than $10, but if you splurge for a wine that costs $17, for instance, expect to get more out of the experience. I thought of an analogy to express this during of the 45 hours I’ve spent either on an airplane or in an airport this past week and a half: treating yourself to an expensive wine is like allowing yourself to recline your seat on a flight.

If you’re like me, under typical circumstances you won’t recline your seat on a flight out of courtesy for the person sitting behind you. But, every once and awhile, if I’m exhausted and have two full hours to sleep on the plane… sorry passenger in seat 11A- my seat is going back! Use the same thought process when spending more than $15 or more on a bottle of wine: do not spend that much every time, just once in a while, only when you really really want to.

And for my tip of the week: 5 star Sangria with Cinco Joses! Try the recipe below, and watch the video with Divya Gugnani, founder of Behind the Burner by clicking on the link below or on our Facebook page (http://facebook.com/spanishvines) as she teaches us how to make authentic Spanish sangria. Video shot on our recent trip to Spain!

Five Star Sangria

Makes 4-8 servings

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 bottle red wine (such as Cinco Joses Grenache)
, 1 shot Marie Brizard Curacao, 
1 shot Torres 5 Imperial Brandy, 
1/3 cup simple syrup
, 4 cups orange juice, 
3/4 cup lemon juice
, 1 peach sliced,
 1 green apple sliced
, 1 lemon sliced
, 1 orange sliced, 
orange and lemon rind for garnish

PREPARATION:

1. Add ice to a large pitcher, about a third full.
2. Add all sliced fruit to pitcher.
3. Add the wine, brandy, curacao, simple syrup and juices.
4. Mix well. Let sangria sit for a few hours for the most flavor.
   
5. To serve, pour into a glass, spooning in pieces of fruit.
   
6. Garnish each glass with a piece of orange and lemon rind.

Entender es Disfrutar!

See you next week,

-Josh