Pitcher Perfect: Mumbai's best white wine sangrias

Move over, paella and gazpacho. When it comes to Spain's greatest culinary exports, none find themselves at home in Mumbai like the sangria.

Derived from 'sangre' – Spanish for 'red' – sangria typically has red wine, chopped fruit and a dash of brandy. But there's no dearth to experimentation. From vodka, triple sec and soda to chopped fruit and even cider, the sangria is one of the most versatile drinks to beat Mumbai's heat with.

Adjudging a great sangria isn't easy since there's no standard recipe. But as with any cocktail (this is more a fruit punch, but oh well), one can tell the wheat from the chaff. On that note, here's where to find Mumbai's best white wine sangrias:

Jamjar Diner, Versova
Head to this quaint eatery in Aram Nagar if (a) value for money is a priority, and (b) you're looking for a potent summer drink. Their Sangria White with white wine, apple juice, triple sec and brandy (Glass- Rs372; Pitcher- Rs1,116) is a must-have. Go for the Sparkling Sangria (Pitcher- Rs1,158) if you want to cool down with Brut, brandy, triple sec, apple juice, orange and sweet lime instead.

Lemon Leaf, Bandra
Lemon Leaf on Turner Pali Road has Sake Sangria on the menu. Only, it's not available to order. So we had the Super Fruit Sangria (white wine, melon, peach, wild berry extract, ginger juice and club soda). Underwhelming, since there was no hint of ginger or wild berry extract. The restaurant is, however, generous with the fruit – if that's how you like your drink.
Try the Melon Sangria or the Peach and Basil Lemon Leaf Special. The former in particular is worth writing home about. (Price: Rs390/- for all)

Terttulia, Shivaji Park
This Pune eatery's Mumbai outpost has delectable food, gorgeous interiors and a vibe that never makes you want to leave. Too bad we can't say the same about the melon sangria here (Rs425), which is a bit too sweet for our taste and almost enters mocktail territory. Perhaps their Sunday Sangria is a saving grace. We can't say, since we went on a weekday.

The Table, Colaba
The Table's honeydew sangria (Glass- Rs650; Half carafe- Rs1,300; Carafe- Rs2,600) tops up the versatile Chenin Blanc (a staple in food and wine pairings) with vodka, apple and pineapple to offer one of Mumbai's best sangrias. The downer? The quantity. If we'd got more for the price, we'd be happy campers.

Pali Village Cafe, Bandra
Pali Village Cafe's white wine sangria with apple nectar, fresh honeydew and cantaloupe is outdone by its Peach and Malta counterpart (with Chenin Blanc). But neither have the complexity you'd expect from a great sangria. It was also the only one devoid of chopped fruit, save for a tangerine slice for garnish. (Price: Rs495 for both)

The Tasting Room, Lower Parel
Forgive the cliche, but we've saved the best for last. This restaurant nestled in Raghuvanshi Mills' Good Earth has a white wine sangria (Pitcher- Rs1150; Glass- Rs 400) your tastebuds will pledge allegiance to. The drink is dead simple: Sauvignon Blanc wine with fresh, diced apples. Yet, it's the lightest, most refreshing sangria you'll get in Mumbai. Our guess? It's all about the wine. This is the place to go if 'Keep it simple, silly' is your motto.