This wonderfully festive, Red Citrus Sangria is a delicious and light beverage for holiday parties. The extra citrus adds a flavorful spark to this classic.

Red Citrus Sangria
Recipe adapted from Curate by Katie Button

Ingredients
Citrus Spice Syrup
3/4 cup fresh orange juice
zest of 1/2 orange (removed with a vegetable peeler)
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
zest of 1/2 lemon (removed with a vegetable peeler)
3 tablespoons sugar
5 juniper berries
5 black peppercorns
1 cinnamon stick
1 mint sprig
1 fresh bay leaf

Sangria
6 tablespoons Delpeche Fougerat VSOP Cognac
1 orange wheel
1 lemon wheel
2 cups cut-up, fresh citrus fruit (such as grapefruit, blood oranges and mandarins)
1/2 cup Sprite (very chilled)
1 750 ml. bottle Los Rocas Garnacha, dry red wine (very chilled)

Directions
Make the Citrus Spice Syrup
In a small saucepan, bring all the ingredients to a simmer with 3 tablespoons of water. Cover, remove from the heat, and allot to steep for 30 minutes.

Strain through a fine sieve or coffee filter into a jar with a good lid. Refrigerate until cold (at least 4 hours) or up to 1 week.

Make the sangria
Fill a pitcher with ice, then add cognac, orange wheel, lemon wheel, fruit, and citrus spice syrup. Pour in the Sprite and wine. Site to combine.

Serve immediately over ice.