Ingredients

Cherry Syrup

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup water

1 cup fresh California Bing cherries, washed and pitted

Sangria

1 (750 mL) bottle fruity red wine, chilled

2 cups California Bing cherries, pitted

2 oranges

2 limes

24-36 ounces mineral water

Fresh mint sprigs for garnish

Instructions

Cherry Syrup

1. Bring sugar, water, and cherries to a boil in a medium pot. Once boiling, reduce to simmer for 5 minutes.
2. Remove from heat. Cover and chill. (This can be done a day ahead.)

Sangria

1. Pour the wine over ice in a glass pitcher . Strain cooled cherry syrup into a large pitcher, pressing on the cherries to release their juice. Squeeze the juice of 1 orange and 1 lime and add to the wine. Stir in remaining cherries.
2. Slice the remaining fruit into rounds or wedges (for garnish), and add half to the wine along with half the fresh cherries. Add mineral water, to taste.
3. Pour the sangria over glasses of ice, top each glass with a little more mineral water if desired; garnish with sliced fruit, cherries, and mint sprigs
4. Garnish with fresh mint.

Yield: 1 pitcher, 6-8 servings