Have you noticed that certain drinks are missing a certain oomph in Virginia? Do you find yourself traveling into D.C. for that special glass of sangria? It’s that oomph that is under debate in the Virginia General Assembly today.

The Post reports that a House subcommittee will be debating a bill introduced by Del. Adam P. Ebbin (D-Alexandria) that would amend the 74-year-old Virginia code outlawing the mixing of wine or beer with spirits and the storage of alcohol outside of its original container. Traditionally, sangria consists of a mixture of red or white wines, brandy or triple sec, sugar, and fruit.

The law has largely fallen under the radar of most Virginia establishments, but recently drew attention when La Tasca Spanish Tapas in Old Town Alexandria received two citations in December of 2006 for premixing and combining wine with brandy. If convicted, the bartender could face a fine of up to $2500 or 12 months in jail. Other establishments, like Jaleo in Crystal City, quickly changed their sangria recipes to comply with the law.

Unfortunately, the bill carves only a small exception for sangria, ignoring many other traditional drinks and new concoctions “mixologists” love to dream up.

What other drinks are Virginians missing out on? Will sangria share the same fate as Dremo’s beer pong or Rustico’s Brew Pops?

Eric Denman contributed. Photo by adactio.