My first try at making a fancy(ish) alcoholic beverage

The high in Minnesota today is about 80 degrees. IN APRIL. For those of you who choose to live in warmer climes, this is highly unusual. There are crazy people coming out of the woodwork to bike, walk, run and just spend time in the sun. It's glorious. I'm a little scared to break out the shorts; these white legs didn't even get tan LAST summer, much less seen light in the last 5+ months.

So because of this lovely weather, I felt a need to have a drink. Normally my go-to is white wine, but I wanted something fruity and cool that didn't require too much work. Then an idea hit me: Sangria. That way I could have my wine and still get the fruity buzz I was looking for. This recipe is great for a refreshing drink that doesn't take a professional bartender. It is one of my favorites, especially since it tastes good even if you change up the ingredients for a more or less alcoholic version. I shall share both recipes with you, and you can decide which suits your mood. A note: These are large-scale recipes, for a pitcher.

Lime Berry Sangria

What you need for both:
White wine (Moscato or white zin)
Ginger ale
2 limes
Blackberries
Raspberries

For the more alcoholic version:
Sparkling wine or champagne
Peach schnapps

For an extra kick:
Mint leaves
Strawberries
Orange slices

How to make it:
Wash all the fruit thoroughly, and slice one of the limes thin. Leave the peels on for color and enhanced flavor. Add the fruit to your pitcher. Pour in wine and ginger ale (and the other liquid ingredients). Keep in mind, if you're making the more alcoholic version of this recipe, you will want to consider how much alcohol you're adding, for taste purposes. Always remember to taste anything you're making as you make it. Halve the remaining lime and squeeze the juice into your liquid ingredients.  Stir everything together, and refrigerate for 1-3 hours before serving. I don't like to serve anything over ice, but feel free to have your sangria on the rocks!