The weather is getting warmer and the days are getting longer, which means it’s time for one thing: summer cocktails. Simple to mix with on-hand ingredients, Spanish sangria is traditionally made with red or white wine, flavored liqueurs and a heaping pile of fresh fruit — oranges, apples and berries are classic choices. Food Network’s top five sippers below will quench your thirst in the sweltering heat and easily serve a crowd.

5. Sangria Perea – Guy’s fruit-filled glass boasts a refreshing mixture of juicy pineapple, grapes and slices of lemon, lime and orange.

4. Red Sangria – For best results, refrigerate the prepared pitcher (pictured above) for at least one hour before serving, so that the red wine, brandy and orange liqueur can adopt the bright flavors of citrus and apple.

Get the top three sangria recipes

Cinco de Mayo is my favorite food holiday. I know I probably say that for every food-related holiday, but let’s be honest — Cinco de Mayo really is the best.

Growing up in Arizona meant a few things. The most important one is that you absolutely must throw a giant Cinco de Mayo party every single year regardless of what day of the week the holiday falls on. We Arizonans take our Cinco de Mayo parties pretty seriously, too. There is never a shortage of freshly made margaritas or sangria and there is always guacamole.

This year I’m going to be in Los Angeles for the holiday and while L.A. is all well and good, there is really nothing like being home in Tucson for a fun fiesta. But never fear, I’m still going all out for Cinco de Mayo this year. These two cocktails will be making an appearance for my fiesta and you should absolutely make them, too. Based loosely on two cocktail recipes from a few of my favorite Food Network stars, I’ll be whipping up a jalapeno-infused margarita and a strawberry raspberry sangria.

Get my variations