Cider Sangria

Fall, of course, is the apple harvest.  Many of the high school kids, back in the day when the drinking age was 18 (it changed around 1980, largely due to the efforts of a lobbyist group called MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving), would spend the weekend evenings in the early fall passing around a bottle of "hooch"--usually something like Boone's Farm Apple (which Bradley Liquors also sells, for those of you feeling nostalgic).

But as we get older, and our tastes get more aquiline, we can't put our lips to a bottle of cheap wine and guzzle it anymore.  We require more--*refined* ways to do what we do.

Try this.  It'll put a nice warm feeling in your gut.

White Wine and Sparkling Cider Sangria

1 bottle dry white wine, such as Vinho Verde or Pinot Grigio
1 cup fresh orange juice
Juice of 2 limes
10 strawberries, thickly sliced (optional)
Orange and lime slices
1 1/2 cups sparkling sweet cider
Ice

In a large glass pitcher, combine the first 5 ingredients and set aside to macerate for 15 minutes. Just before serving, add the sparking cider and ice. Stir well and serve at once.

All right?  All right.  SEE YA!