Looking to master the perfect red sangria? We’ve spent years perfecting this Spanish classic, and we’re excited to share our go-to recipe that strikes the ideal balance between fruit-forward flavors and well-crafted sophistication. This isn’t your standard pitcher of sweet wine – it’s an elevated take on a timeless favorite.
Watch 🎥: How to Make Red Sangria
What Is Red Sangria?
Red sangria is a wine-based cocktail that originated in Spain, traditionally combining red wine with fresh fruits and often enhanced with brandy or orange liqueur. The term “sangria” comes from the Spanish word “sangre,” meaning blood, referring to the deep red color of the wine used as its base.
What you’ll love about this recipe:
What You Need to Make a Red Sangria Cocktail
How to Make a Red Sangria Cocktail
- Prepare your fruits by chopping the apple into small chunks and slicing the citrus into thin rounds.
- Layer the prepared fruit in a large glass pitcher.
- Pour in the wine, orange juice, and Grand Marnier, stirring gently to combine.
- Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, to allow flavors to meld.
Expert Recipe Tips
- Tip 1: Select a wine you’d enjoy drinking on its own – avoid cheap cooking wine as it’s the foundation of your sangria.
- Tip 2: For optimal flavor infusion, prepare your sangria 24 hours in advance.
- Tip 3: Add a splash of sparkling water just before serving for a refreshing effervescence.
How to Serve This Red Sangria Cocktail
Serve in wine glasses over fresh ice, ensuring each glass gets a generous portion of the infused fruit. For an elevated presentation, garnish with fresh mint sprigs and orange wheels.
More Cocktail Recipes
Explore our collection of wine-based cocktails, including our White Sangria and Champagne Spritz variations.
Classic Red Sangria Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Apple chopped
- 1 Orange sliced
- 1 Lime sliced
- 1 bottle red wine of choice
- ½ cup orange juice
- ¼ cup grand mariner
Instructions
- Add the apples, oranges and limes to a large pitcher.
- Add the red wine, orange juice and grand mariner.
- Stir to combine and allow to chill in the fridge for a few hours or overnight.
- Serve over ice.
Video
Recipe FAQs
We recommend a medium-bodied Spanish red wine like Rioja or Tempranillo, but any decent quality red wine you enjoy will work well.
Yes, in fact, we encourage making it 24 hours in advance to allow the flavors to fully develop.
While Grand Marnier adds a distinctive orange complexity, you can substitute with Cointreau or another premium orange liqueur.
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Sangria was the first drink I had (legally) in University. I remember going to a steak house for dinner, ordering sangria, and feeling so grown up and sophisticated. Then, we went to see Dances With Wolves. Not important, but still.
Sounds fabulous! I’ve made one with cherries as well. Sangria is so much fun! Your photos are pretty incredible!
Glad to be featured with you via Taking on Magazines. I have never met a sangria recipe I didn’t like which keeps me trying more and more. I thought I had found the ultimate with a Tuscan Sangria I posted this summer. Hmm….too bad the stores are closed today or we would be trying this one this evening!
Brandied cherries? Brilliant. I too love to liquor up my sangria. The fruit at the bottom of the cup is dangerous.
What type of red wine do you recommend and when you say a large bottle of wine, what size are you referring to?
Hi Sylvia, I usually hunt out the biggest bottle I can while at the liquor store, mainly because I am just going to end up buying two bottles at 750ML. If your liquor store has 1.5L bottles, I would go with that. If not, two 750mL will do great. As far as what kind, really this one depends on what wine you like. I tend to not spend too much on sangria wine and go for something sweet, because a lot of other ingredients are going into the pitcher and the subtle unique wine flavors will be lost or diffused. A few companies even make ‘sangria’ as an option now.
Your pictures are beautiful! And I had no idea there’s brandy and extra sugar in sangria! Bring it on. The first time I had sangria was at a sketchy hostel in Madrid… this feels much more sophisticated 😉