Sangria is a sweet beverage prepared with Spanish red wine and fresh fruit. It's essentially a boozy fruit punch. It looks elegant, feels festive, and is easy to prepare ahead of time. Thus, during your next summer gathering, welcome your friends with a huge pitcher of sangria. It'll certainly get the party started.

WHAT IS SANGRIA?

You've most likely seen or heard of "sangria." If you've never had it before and enjoy wine, you're in for a treat. Sangria is the most popular and recognized cocktail in Spain.

It's made using Spanish red wine and freshly chopped fruit. As a result, you get a pleasantly sweet and fruity drink.

The recipe I'm providing today is a basic, more conventional form, but there are countless variants. Choose from a broad range of fruits. Herbs can be used for a touch of freshness. Add extra brandy or triple sec to make it more alcoholic. If you like lighter drinks, try white wine with a splash of seltzer water.

INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED

Now, we're going back to the recipe's original roots. Here are the fundamental components of a traditional red sangria.

1 750ml bottle of red wine
½ cup brandy
1 apple, sliced
2 oranges, one sliced and one juiced
1 lemon, sliced
Maple syrup or honey to sweeten (optional)
Sparkling water(optional)
Garnish with extra orange slices

WHAT IS THE BEST WINE TO USE?

While wine takes center stage in this drink, don't skimp on the wine you buy. If you don't like the wine on its own, don't use it.

A wine that is fruity but dry, somewhat acidic, and low in tannins is ideal. Essentially, anything that will match the fresh and fruity flavor of sangria.

Rioja - Think of it as a glass of Spain (it is a Spanish area). Rioja wine is manufactured from a combination of grapes such as Tempranillo and Garnacha. It's also one of the most preferred Spanish wines to utilize due of its delicate and fruity characteristics (and what I personally use).

Tempranillo - A Spanish grape used in a variety of varieties (including Rioja). It has rustic tastes like blackberries, black cherries, and cola. It has rich oak flavors that are a product of the aging process.
Garnacha (Grenache) - A low-tannin red wine grape with rich fruits and lively tones. It's ideal for blending into sangria.
Zinfandel - Similar to the grapes mentioned above, Zinfandel is a great California option. It's full-bodied, very fruity, and tinged with floral aromas.
Bonarda - Produced in Argentina, this low-cost wine is unexpectedly full of rich, fruity aromas. in addition to a lovely palette of red cherry, raspberry, and plum.
Nero d'Avala - Grown in the heart of Southern Italy, this dark and luscious mix. It has soft tannins and cherry notes that make it ideal for milder sangrias.

HOW TO MAKE SANGRIA

In just a few simple steps, you'll have a beautiful pitcher of sangria ready to serve.

Cut the fruit into small pieces or wedges: Dice the apple, orange, and lemon. Toss the peels into the pitcher while they are still on.
Give everything a stir: Pour the wine, brandy, and any sweetener into the pitcher. Then combine everything until it's well combined.
Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight. The longer it sits, the more the flavors combine.
Serve this sangria in individual glasses over ice, and top with sparkling water if desired! Make sure to include some fruit in the glass as well.

MAKE THIS AHEAD OF TIME

Nothing beats being greeted at a gathering by a cheerful and alcoholic pitcher of sangria. Make things easier on yourself by preparing this the night before.

Also, allowing it to lie overnight is essential for increasing the rich and fruity tastes.
If you taste the sangria shortly after combining it, it will be a little sharp. So just be patient and let it sit. It will be worth the wait!

And if you have leftovers (which is doubtful), this will keep in the fridge for approximately 3-4 days. But, the fruit may begin to spoil before the wine, so keep a watch on it.

BEST RED SANGRIA RECIPE

Red sangria is a sweet cocktail made from an infusion of Spanish red wine and fresh fruit. It's a boozy fruit punch thats looks fancy, feels festive, and it's great for making ahead of time.

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Course: cocktails, drinks

Cuisine: spanish

Keyword: red sangria, red sangria recipe, sangria

Prep Time: 10

Total Time: 10

Calories: 44kcal

Ingredients

1 750ml bottle of red wine
½ cup brandy
1 apple, sliced
2 oranges, one sliced and one juiced
1 lemon, sliced
optional: maple syrup or honey to sweeten
optional: sparkling water
garnish with extra orange slices

Instructions

Dice the apple, orange, and lemon into small pieces. Make sure to leave the peels on and toss them into the pitcher along with the orange juice.
Pour the wine, brandy and any sweetener into the pitcher. Then stir everything together until it's all combined. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight. The longer it sits, the more time the flavors can meld together.
Serve this in individual glasses over ice. Then top with sparkling water if you'd like!

TIPS

I prefer to cut the fruit fairly small (I quarter each citrus slice), so that I can easily top an individual glass with a little bit of fruit.
If you love my modern pitcher, make sure to grab it! As well as my wine glasses.

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