When I consider the perfect summer evening, I imagine backyard dining with lights strung up, the grill smoking and a glass of sangria in my hand. This tropical Passion Fruit Sangria from "Home Cooking with Jean-Georges" puts a bright citrus spin on the drink and calls for a white Gewurtztraminer instead of red wine, which feels lighter and well-suited for the heat of summer (and doesn't give you the same headache the next day!).

Ingredients:

*Makes 6 to 8 drinks

1 bottle (750 mL) dry Gewurztraminer
3/4 cup orange liqueur
6 tablespoons simple syrup
7 tablespoons passion fruit puree
1 cup fresh orange juice
1 orange, quartered and thinly sliced
1 lime, quartered and thinly sliced
1 cup of blackberries, halved
1/4 pineapple, peeled, cored and cut into 1-inch-long, 1/4-inch thick pieces
15 thin slices peeled fresh ginger


To Make:

In a pitcher or bowl, combine the Gewurztraminer, orange liqueur, simple syrup, passion fruit puree, orange juice, orange, lime, blackberries, pineapple and ginger and stir well. Refrigerate for at least two hours before serving.

To serve, pour sangria into wine glasses filled with ice. Be sure to add some fruit to each glass!

With the scorcher forecast for this weekend, I may be making another pitcher of this. Salud!