Grandma Maggio s Spaghetti Sauce

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, chopped

1 whole head garlic, peeled and chopped

2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms

½ cup chopped fresh basil leaves, or to taste

1 (28 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes

1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce

1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste

¾ cup Merlot wine

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 teaspoons dried oregano

¼ cup white sugar

Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat, and cook and stir the onion and garlic until translucent but not browned, 6 to 7 minutes. Stir in the mushrooms and basil, and cook and stir until the basil is wilted and the mushrooms are cooked through and have given up their juices, about 10 minutes.

Pour in the whole peeled tomatoes, and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring and chopping the tomatoes into pieces with a spoon. Pour in the tomato sauce and stir, crushing any large pieces of tomato left, and bring to a simmer. Let the sauce simmer until slightly thickened and bubbling, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes.

Stir the tomato paste into the sauce, and fill the empty tomato paste can with Merlot wine, stirring to dissolve any remaining tomato paste in the can. Pour the Merlot wine into the sauce, and stir well to combine. Bring the sauce back to a simmer, and stir in the salt, pepper, dried oregano, and sugar. Let the sauce simmer until the seasonings are blended and the sauce is heated through, about 3 more minutes.