Apologue at Home: Damn Fine Sangria

We first spotted a bottle of No Fine Print wine on our way out of town at ORD’s Publican Tavern. The label caught our eye from across the room. The thoughtfully bold and unpretentious packaging turned out to be an accurate precursor to the juice inside. The brand was launched by noted sommelier Ryan Arnold, the current wine director for Lettuce Entertain You, and a couple visionary music industry vets with a panache for branding and marketing.

The team’s aim was to break down the barriers of the wine world by creating a product that would speak to people who appreciate and enjoy great tasting wine but are less concerned with esoteric sommelier jargon.

They hit the nail on the head with their Cabernet Sauvignon. It is fantastic and approachable and has been accurately described as ‘lush, fruity and compulsively drinkable.’

When we started working on a Sangria recipe featuring Apologue’s Aronia Liqueur, No Fine Print’s Cab immediately came to mind as something that would pair well. We wanted a Sangria that would be easy to make, wouldn’t require a lot of prep and be a crowd favorite. Often times, Sangria can be a bit too sweet. Not the case here though. One of the great things about this recipe is that it doesn’t call for any additional sugars or syrups. The jammy notes from the wine are complimented beautifully by the juicy berry and soft floral notes of the Aronia Liqueur.