Best Red Sangria

Liven up any Holiday party with this intoxicating Red Sangria Recipe crafted from medium-bodied dry red wine, brandy, and a vibrant medley of fresh-squeezed oranges, lemons, and limes. A splash of ginger ale tops the drink with a bit of effervescence. But the supreme delight is the wine-saturated fruit at the bottom of your cocktail glass. 

Though sangria is often associated with Summer, this recipe with its vibrant red hue evokes the festive spirit of the season. As a result, it makes a delightful addition to any holiday gathering. This cheery Red Sangria is a surefire way to impress your guests. Grab the recipe today and don't miss out on serving it up at your next gathering.

If you're looking for another tasty sangria that is perfect for the Fall season, check out my Bourbon Apple Cider Sangria. It's really like Autumn in a glass. A few other Apple Cider cocktails that are worth mentioning are Bourbon Apple Cider Cocktail and my Spiked Warm Apple Cider. I can't leave out the most delicious Eggnog you've ever tasted though - Homemade Spiked Eggnog. It's a must for your Holiday parties.

What is Sangria and what is it made of?

Sangria is considered a Spanish wine punch and consists of red or white wine, Brandy, Rum or Vermouth, seasonal chopped fruit, and a type of sweetener. Some will add a splash of sparkling soda to give it a bubbly effect. Originally Sangria was made with red wine and comes from the word "sangre" which means blood in Spanish. This is due to its dark red color. Interestingly enough though, this is not what locals normally order from bars when they're out. It's a touristy thing that visitors order when they're vacationing in Spain.

This cocktail blends sweet and fruity with a dry red wine to create a delicious and refreshing drink.  If you're looking for more "sweet and fruity" cocktails, be sure to explore The Kitchen Community link for an array of fantastic recipes. 

Ingredients You Will Need to Make this Red Sangria Recipe

• Citrusy Fruit.  This adds a sweet and tart complexity to this Red Sangria. Freshly squeezed orange, lemon, and lime quarters infuse the wine with its vibrant flavors.
• Sweetener - I chose granulated sugar for this recipe, but you could use honey, agave, or maple syrup.
• Dry "Medium-Bodied" Red Wine - A Spanish wine like Rioja or Tempranillo fits the description well. , full-bodied description. But the truth is you can grab a bottle of Pinot Noir or Zinfandel. 
• Brandy - This is the most traditional liquor used in  Sangria but you can use rum or a sweet Vermouth. If you would rather it not be so boozy, then you can leave out the additional liquor. 
• Triple Sec - I included this liqueur because I love the sweet orange flavor it brings and for the extra boozy kick it gives. 
• Ginger Ale or Club Soda - This adds a refreshing fizz to this sangria. For a less sweet cocktail, opt for club soda or use ginger ale but reduce the amount of sugar. 
• Small Chunks of Fruit - These are for garnishing the pitcher and glasses, adding a pop of color to the deep red sangria.  I chose red apples, oranges, lemons, and limes. I wanted a variety of colors peeking out of the deep red wine color. Green apples would be perfect as well. 

How to Make Red Sangria

• Add oranges, lemons, and limes into a large pitcher. Quarter and squeeze four oranges, two lemons, and one lime into a pitcher. Add fruit rind and all.
  • This original fruit enhances the flavor overnight, but it should be removed before serving, as it no longer adds any benefit and can become unsightly. Instead, garnish with the fresh chunks of fruit when serving.
• Sprinkle granulated sugar over the fruit. Stir with a long wooden spoon until the sugar is somewhat dissolved in the juice.  

• Add the bottle of Medium-Bodied Red Wine, Brandy, and Triple Sec to the pitcher. Continue to stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.
• Chill in the refrigerator overnight. This gives the opportunity for the fruit to infuse the wine and fully mix in the fruit juices to sweeten the drink.

• Serve the Red Wine Sangria with a splash of ginger ale and newly chopped fruit. Not only does the fruit make for a pretty presentation but the alcohol-soaked fruit is an additional prize at the end of the drink. 

What is the best Wine for Red Sangria?

The best wine for sangria is a medium-bodied, fruity red wine. Some good options include:

• Tempranillo. A Spanish wine that is known for its juicy red fruit flavors, like raspberries and strawberries.
• Rioja. It is also a Spanish wine that can be aged for several years, which gives them more complex flavors.
• Pinot Noir. This red grape is known for its delicate flavors of red fruits, like cherries and raspberries, and flowers, like violets and roses. 
• Zinfandel. This American grape can produce a variety of wines, from light and fruity to bold and spicy. For sangria, choose a Zinfandel with red fruit flavors. 

Sangria Variations?

Summertime Berry Sangria. White Wine Sangrias are a perfect warm-weather drink and are light and refreshing. Add in some fresh peaches, cherries, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and/or raspberries which add a beautiful touch to the white wine. 

Apple Cider Sangria. An Apple Cider Sangria brings in all the flavors of Fall with fresh cider, bourbon, cinnamon sticks, star anise, apples, and pears. 

Holiday Sangria. Red Wine is best for a festive Holiday Sangria because of its bright color. The recipe found in this post is perfect for your Thanksgiving or Christmas cocktail. You could change up the garnishments with fresh cranberries and/or pomegranate seeds if you like. To give it some spice, add in star anise, and cinnamon sticks while it's sitting overnight. 

Can you make this recipe for Red Wine Sangria ahead of time?

You can make this sangria recipe a day ahead of time to ease the stress of party planning and allow time for the flavors to merge into a delightful boozy concoction. Just wait to add the Ginger Ale until ready to serve, or it will lose its fiz. 

People simply love to be a part of celebrations and what better time is there than the holiday season coming up? Whether it's Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, or Christmas, serve a pitcher of sangria throughout your get-together. This is where stories of past accomplishments are retold, encouragement is given, and the joy of true relationships "linger" in the moment. Your guests will feel cheered, loved, and maybe a little tipsy.

Looking for more Cocktails?

Apple Cider Sangria with Bourbon

Bourbon Apple Cider Cocktail

Pumpkin Spice Vodka Martini

Homemade Aged Boozy Eggnog

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Red Sangria Recipe with Brandy

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.8 from 6 reviews

Liven up any Holiday party with this intoxicating Red Sangria crafted from full-bodied dry red wine, brandy, and a vibrant medley of fresh-squeezed oranges, lemons, and limes. A splash of ginger ale tops the drink with a bit of effervescence. But the supreme delight is the wine-saturated fruit at the bottom of this cocktail pitcher.

• Author: Kristy Murray
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 8 8-oz glasses 1x
• Category: Cocktails
• Method: Chilled
• Cuisine: Spanish

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 4 Oranges, quartered
• 2 Lemons, quartered
• 1 Lime, quartered
• 4 tablespoons Sugar
• 1  bottle of Medium-Bodied Red Wine
• 6 oz of Brandy
• 6 oz Triple Sec
• 2 cups Ginger Ale, chilled
• Cut Up Small Chunks of Apples, Oranges, Lemon and Lime (for garnishment in glasses)

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Instructions

• Squeeze the 4 quartered oranges, 2 quartered lemons, and 1 quartered lime into a large pitcher and add the rinds.
• Sprinkle 4 tablespoons sugar over the fruit.
• Add the bottle of red wine, 6 ounces of brandy, and 6 ounces of triple sec.
• Stir until sugar is dissolved.
• Let set overnight in the refrigerator.
• When ready to serve, add 2 cups chilled ginger ale.
• Pour into individual glasses and add the chunks of fresh fruit.
• Enjoy!

Notes

• This recipe calls for sugar to be added. But if you prefer a sangria that is less sweet, you can leave it out. It is good either way.
• Great wines to use for this sangria are Spanish wines like Rioja or Tempranillo.
• This recipe can be made a day ahead of time which is perfect when planning for a party. Just wait to add the Ginger Ale until ready to serve, or it will lose its fiz.
• This original fruit enhances the flavor overnight, but it should be removed before serving, as it no longer adds any benefit and can become unsightly. Instead, garnish with the fresh chunks of fruit when serving.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8 oz glass
• Calories: 313
• Sugar: 21 g
• Sodium: 9 g
• Fat: 0 g
• Saturated Fat: 0 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 0 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg

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