Red Sangria is a lightly sweetened red wine cocktail infused with fruit and spices and fortified with a little brandy. Lemon, orange, and apple slices add freshness contrasting the warm aromas of cinnamon and star anise. The longer sangria sits the more flavorful it will become, which makes this a great make-ahead pitcher drink for parties. Sangria recipes both red and white versions can be found almost anywhere in both Spain and Portugal, where they are favorites among visitors. However, they share the stage with other notable Spanish wine cocktails loved by locals like Agua De València and Tinto de Verano. These pitcher drinks are festive and intended to be enjoyed with good company, so gather some friends and get started! To make red sangria, you only need a handful of ingredients and a little time in the fridge to let the flavors meld. Customize this recipe however you like, adding additional fruit or berries. And don’t worry, if you have friends who don’t imbibe, just make this non-alcoholic sangria. It has all of the flavor and none of the booze.
What is Red Sangria?
Sangria is an infused chilled wine pitcher drink typically served with fruit. It can refer to a mix of wine, fruit, spices, sweetener, and any assortment of added liquor, sodas, or even herbs.The name “sangria” comes from the Spanish word for blood, sangre, referring to the color of the drink. Although early civilizations had been mixing wine with similar ingredients, it was in Spain that this particular style of drink became popularized as we know it today.
Red Wine Sangria Ingredients
Unlike some cocktails, you only need wine and one kind of liquor to make sangria. Everything else is easy to pick up at any grocery store!
Citrus: Lemons and oranges add brightness to the sangria and you don’t even need to juice them! Simply slice and add them to the pitcher. They will infuse the drink with their sweet and tart flavors. Apple: Any type of apple will add flavor to the sangria, but tart and firm apples, such as Pink Lady or Granny Smith, keep their crunch even after marinating in the wine. Brandy: You don’t need to spend the big bucks on brandy for sangria as the subtle flavor notes will be overpowered by the fruit and the wine. Any mid-priced brandy distilled from grapes will work perfectly well in red sangria. Red wine: Spanish red wine like, Garnacha, is a great selection for making red sangria. You want to choose a bottle with a nice balance of tannin and fruit, something in a moderate price range you would enjoy drinking on its own. Simple syrup: You can certainly make sangria without adding any sweetener, but we like how a little simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water warmed together until just dissolved) balances the overall flavor profile of the drink. Spices: Whole cinnamon sticks and star anise pods infuse the sangria with warm background notes. The longer you steep the mixture before serving it the more of their flavor will come through.
Best Wine for Red Sangria
Sangria is traditionally made from Tempranillo, a red varietal grown in several regions throughout Spain and Portugal. The most famously used wine in sangria recipes is Rioja. If you want to try a different style of Spanish red wine, here are some other regional options:
Garnacha: This style is known to be quite a fruity red wine, and can be a more budget-friendly Navarra: Similar to a Rioja, but lighter in body Priorat: A rich, bold red wine from the hills southwest of Barcelona known for its dark fruit aromas.
How to Make Red Sangria
You can make sangria directly in the pitcher you plan to serve it in! Do give the mixture at least four hours (or better, overnight) to chill in the fridge to allow the flavors time to meld. Here’s a quick and easy way to make this red sangria recipe:
Start with fruit. Place 2 thinly sliced oranges, 2 thinly sliced lemons, and a sliced apple into a large pitcher. Add the liquor. Pour in 1/2 cup of brandy. Pour in the wine and sweeten. Add a 750ml bottle of Rioja red wine over the fruit. Stir in 1/4 cup simple syrup, if using. Add the spices. Add in 2 cinnamon sticks and 2 star anise pods and give everything one more stir. Chill. Refrigerate overnight, or for at least 4 hours. The fruit will macerate, the spices will soften, and the flavors of everything will integrate. Garnish and serve. When ready to serve, pour the Sangria into glasses and garnish with additional oranges and apple slices. Salud!
Ways to Mix it Up
Red sangria is very accommodating and you can modify this recipe to suit your tastes or the time of year you plan to serve it. Some ways to consider:
Fruit: Add berries such as blackberries, blueberries, or strawberries. In the winter a few cranberries give red sangria a festive pop! In the summer almost anything goes, or you can switch things up altogether and make Easy Watermelon Sangria instead. Juice it up: You can layer in juice or another non-alcoholic beverage to make a sangria that’s not quite so strong. Try adding some orange juice or lemonade. Just start out adding small amounts at first, as you still want the flavors of the fruit and wine to shine through. Spices and herbs: You can add additional baking spices such as grated nutmeg or whole allspice berries. Woody herbs, such as fresh rosemary or lavender, also add an interesting note that can echo the flavors found in the wine itself. Swap the alcohol: Red wine is a non-negotiable for red sangria, but you can substitute the brandy with red (also called sweet) vermouth or a different type of alcohol to give the drink a different flavor profile. I recommend Lustau’s “Vermut Rojo.” For a stronger kick, Liquor 43 from Spain gives your Sangria some vanilla and orange notes and orange curaçao adds more of a sweet citrus flavor. Just remember that with every added liquor component, the strength of the drink will tick up!
Can You Make Sangria Ahead of Time?
Sangria is super quick to mix up, but it does need chilling time for the flavors to properly mingle. Let sangria chill in the fridge for 4 to 24 hours before serving for the best flavor. The longer it sits the more complex the flavor becomes.
How Long Does Red Sangria Last?
Red sangria needs at least a few hours to infuse, but there is a limit to how long one should let the fruits marinate in the wine. Infusing it for too long, the bitter flavor compounds in the pith of the lemon and orange rind will start to come through in the finished drink. If you want to make a batch to last for longer than a few days, plan to strain out the fruit after three days. Once the fruit is removed you can store the drink for an additional four days.
What to Serve with Red Sangria
Because it goes down easily and it’s stronger than wine alone, it’s a good idea to serve sangria with something to eat! It’s wonderful accompanied by appetizers inspired by Spanish tapas or pintxos. Think Shrimp Ceviche and Pan Con Tomate or Crispy Patatas Bravas. Browse all Mediterranean recipes.
Easy Watermelon Sangria Recipe
White Sangria
Non-Alcoholic Sangria with Hibiscus and Thyme
Holiday Sangria
Visit Our Shop. *This post has recently been updated with new information for readers’ benefit. 125 Easy Mediterranean Diet-Inspired Recipes to Eat Well and Live Joyfully from New York Times Bestselling Author Suzy Karadsheh
