Julian Gagliardi shares tips on how to drink Lolea

Sangrias are a fun drink to have for any occasion. And why wouldn’t it be when it’s served with a medley of colorful, diced fruits in a glass of red wine. 

A traditional drink that is said to have originated from Spain and Portugal, it made its way to the Western world in the 1960s. It was a refreshing drink, to say the least. And the rest, as they say, was history. 

Sangrias have been served all over the world since then, and have become a part of the staple menus in most drink establishments. One sangria brand that’s been making waves is Lolea that hails from Spain. A fairly young company that launched in 2013, it’s quite a feat that they are available in over 50 countries in a span of less than a decade. 

General Manager of Happy Living Philippines Corporation Julian Gagliardi tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle why they thought of bringing Lolea to the country, “Sangria being the drink of choice for family gatherings, celebrations, and the daily ‘tapas hour’ in Spain, we believed that the Philippines is the perfect market for Sangria. On top of the many celebrations happening here in the Philippines, the climate also requires an easy fresh and fruity drink and Lolea is the perfect answer! Lolea is a ready-to-drink wine cocktail. Its fruity taste, low alcoholic content, and touch of frizzante make it great for drinking almost any time of day.”

Great for any occasion sans the preparation, these ready-to-drink crafted sangrias from Lolea are heaven-sent, especially for this holiday season. “They are made from different wines with high quality grape varieties, a coupage that changes with each new harvest,” Gagliardi explains. “Made exclusively from natural ingredients, it has no preservatives, no colorants, no additives and because it is unpasteurized, it preserves the characteristics we sense when we drink fresh wine.”

Lolea delivers that sparkling and refreshing taste with its frizzante bubbles, making it a fun drink to have anywhere and any time. “Lolea is healthy and natural, and is associated with fiesta and fun. It is the perfect drink to refresh that pre-lunch moment and summer afternoons/evenings with family and friends, hanging out each with a large glass of nice cool Lolea sangría. The fiesta starts when Lolea appears,” says Gagliardi.

And don’t worry about the alcohol content, as it is at seven percent, which makes it an easy drink to enjoy. Choose from three different variants such as their signature Lolea Nº1 Red Wine Sangria that’s made with Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, Mediterranean citrus fruits such as oranges, rinds, lemons with cherries and strawberries. There’s also a pinch of cinnamon and caramel for that sweet and spicy taste. The second one is Lolea Nº2 White Wine Sangria which is made with young white wine, Macabeo and Chardonnay grapes, Mediterranean citrus fruits, and a hint of vanilla. Last, but not the least, is Lolea Nº5 Rosé Sangrai that has rosé wine, hibiscus flower, and ginger, to name a few. The alcohol content is still low at eight percent. 

Gagliardi believes that “Every bottle shares a story, in every bottle you have a sense of place, history, and the passion from the people making it.” Which is why he is the best person to ask on how to enjoy Lolea drinks best. He recommends having Nº1 “in a balloon glass, and adding ice cubes until the glass is full. Then a slice of orange, lemon, lime, and basil leaves.” As for  Nº2, “using a balloon glass, add ice cubes until the glass is full. Then, a slice of lime with some strawberries and mint leaves.” For Nº5, “still in a balloon glass, add ice cubes until the glass is full and some berries and mint leaves.”

The signature polka-dot bottled packaging make these great gifts as well, especially this holiday season. Shop online at shop.happyliving.com or check out their pop-up stores in both Robinsons Magnolia and Robinsons Place Manila until Dec. 31. Prices start at P645.