You need something to keep you cool. But this post isn’t about ice cream. Actually, another song would have been a more appropriate lead. Many years ago, Jerry Jeff Walker sang the praises of “Sangria Wine.” Living in Texas makes you appreciate the qualities of ice. Most wine drinkers would have you think that ice and wine do not mix. In most cases I would agree. But rules were made to be broken. The Spanish have done just that: we should thank them.

My taste for Sangria was initiated at my cousin’s wedding. It was an afternoon ceremony along the banks of the Guadalupe River. Awesome celebration. They made a huge batch of Sangria which complimented the surroundings and aura of the entire day. It is my daytime-outdoors-wine drink of choice.

The following recipe originates from Cheryl and Bobby’s wedding Juice:

• 1.5 liters Red Wine
• 1 pint (+/-) Brandy
• 16 oz Ginger Ale
• Citrus Fruit
• Apples

As far as wine goes, cheap is good. I generally use Livingston’s Red Rose. Same with the brandy. I used to add orange juice, but now I just add extra fruit. You can add the fruit to your taste, but I’ve found this formula works best for me. I made a batch using berries once-It just wasn’t quite right. It’s flashy to add the apples to the individual glasses, but I usually put it all together and serve it over ice.

Be careful! It will sneak up on you. Fiona, my wife, came home one evening to find me in the backyard, glass in hand, singing along with Jerry Jeff on the stereo. Hey, being JohnnyWino isn’t always pretty, but it’s usually fun.

Enjoy!

JohnnyWino did not exist five years ago. To be honest, it is very hard to pinpoint his origins. Most of the people I know never saw him coming, including myself. But this is me. Actually, it’s a part of me. I feel that people in general are far too complex to be summed up within the confines of a single URL. So, “Who is JohnnyWino?” I don’t think I can really answer that yet. I’d like to think he’s the kind of guy you would want to hang out with, the first guy you would invite to your party. But at the same time, substantially deeper and more complex than just another party animal. The guy you would trust with your feelings and emotions, but not the guy you trust to drive you home.

What I can say is that Johnny truly enjoys his wine (it doesn’t even have to be his). He understands the complexity of the wine experience without forgetting that, in the long run, it’s more about enjoyment than experience. To Johnny, wine is an accessory. It compliments the person(ality) without dominating it.

I really can’t sit here and type out a plan for JohnnyWino. I don’t feel that that’s keeping in character. I can tell you that I will be writing about wine and all things associated with it on this page. I hope that others will like it. But, if they don’t, it gives me something to do while I drink my wine. That is what JohnnyWino is about.