Wente Vineyards sangria for Chavolot Conjunction Sunset Junction Function

Serving up Wente sangria

Chavolot Conjunction Function - August 22 and 23, 2009 (4pm-10pm)
Parking lot of El Chavo Restaurant
4441 Sunset Blvd. 90027
323-664-0871
Map

Ah, politics and capitalism. I so enjoy watching America’s mommy and daddy fight. At least I gots me a mega-sangria recipe.

For nearly 30 years the Sunset Junction area of Silverlake (map), where Sunset Boulevard and Santa Monica converge and the streets slip off the grid like overcooked spaghetti noodles, has hosted a street fair featuring live music, arts, crafts, games, and vendors. The 29th annual festival is going down this weekend, from 11am to 11pm Saturday and 11am-10pm Sunday. There’s a long list of bands and DJs playing on four stages; all the info you want is on the Sunset Junction Street Fair Festival webpage.

However, all has not been hunky-dory at the Sunset crossroads. The area has historically been a fault line between alternative-lifestyle (LGBT) people on one side, and traditional family Latinos on the other. The past contains some nasty conflicts, so decades ago the neighborhood association set up the street festival to bring everyone together and celebrate local diversity.

Karl Wente with Honey Pie Brown of the band Sleepy Sun 

A great idea, but like any great idea, the devil is in the details. Mainly, the street fair has a $20 entry fee ($15 if you get tickets in advance, free for under 12 or over 65), which isn’t easy on local residents who have to put up with parking nightmares and have to pay to get to their corner grocery while the street is blocked to vehicle traffic (note, if you’re going to one of the afternoon Cubs-Dodgers games this weekend, avoid Sunset). There are other complaints by some shopkeepers in the area, but you don’t need to read them. Bring on the sangria, right?

I’m not sure if this is a celebration or a repudiation of Sunset Junction, but El Chavo restaurant and its little brother, El Chavito, are mounting the El Chavalot Conjunction Function (El Chavito Facebook page) in their parking lot, just a few blocks from Sunset Junction, from 4pm-10pm on Saturday and Sunday.

They are billing themselves as an “oasis” to that other party. It’s free, but you must be 21 or older. They also have DJ’s, food and games, but most importantly, Wente Vineyards is pouring a special $4 sangria just for Chavalot, created by the following mixologists & revelers: Karl Wente (fifth generation winemaker), Melanie Tusquellas, Jenna Maison, & Heidi Richman.

WENTE VINEYARDS' CHAVOLOT SANGRIA
*Party hearty: this will yield 2-2.5 gallons! Easily adapted to smaller batches-- just keep the same ratios.

1/2 parts Wente Shorthorn Canyon Syrah (approx 8 - 10 bottles)
1/4 parts mango juice (approx 1/2 gallon)
1/4 parts orange or peach Juice (approx 1/2 gallon)
1 - 1 1/2 cups triple sec
1 cup brandy
3 - 4 cans Sprite
3 - 4 mangos - diced
3 - 4 apples - diced
4 -5 oranges - sliced and cut in to quarters

Put it all in a big container, gently stir it around and chill, preferably overnight so the fruit soaks up the wine. Note, the triple sec and brandy are to taste.  Serve over ice (let some fruit tumble out) and add a fresh orange slice to garnish.

Make a few gallons of these, invite your friends over, put the iPod on shuffle, and you can have your own -tion party. Chavalot also has $4 beers and $5 margaritas and cocktails if sangria's not for you.