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Classic Red Sangria never goes out of style. Learn about the best red wine for sangria, then I’ll walk you through how to make this wine cocktail that’s an ideal make-ahead party drink.
Meggan’s notes
Ready to punch up your pitcher drink game? Round up a bottle of red wine and spiff it up with fruit, juice, and liqueur to make this easy sangria.
The best sangria recipe need not be complicated. I keep things classic here with red wine (of course), orange juice that’s echoed by orange liqueur, and fresh fruit. This is actually one recipe that’s best made in advance. By chilling sangria in the fridge for 2 to 8 hours, the fruit is able to infuse into the liquid, layering on luscious flavor.
Since this is a fairly low-alcohol cocktail recipe (sitting around 12% ABV), after one glass, you and your fellow imbibers will be not too tipsy; just perfectly chill, too.
Table of Contents
Recipe ingredients
At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
Ingredient notes
- Oranges: If you want to, buy 3 large oranges: 2 to slice and 1 to juice for the ½ cup of orange juice in the sangria. Or purchase 2 oranges and use ½ cup orange juice from concentrate or a bottle.
- Red wine: Save the ultra-luxe bottles to enjoy unadorned with dinner sometime. (My food and wine pairing ideas will come in handy to help the vino really shine!) The best red wine for sangria doesn’t need to be fancy because you’re doctoring it up with lots of other flavors. I usually aim to invest about $15 to $20 in a bottle, and lean towards dry red wines. Spanish wines such as Garnacha (aka Grenache) or Tempranillo provide a nice nod to the origins of sangria. They’re both medium-bodied and have a balanced amount of acidity as well as dark fruit flavor that play nicely in this pitcher drink recipe. Above all, remember that if you enjoy drinking a red wine on its own, you’ll enjoy it in sangria! Rioja, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon also work just fine here.
- Orange liqueur: Triple sec, Grand Mariner, Cointreau, or Curacao are all good options.
- Simple syrup: To make your own, in a small saucepan over medium heat, combine 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved (do not boil). Remove from heat and cool completely. Pour into a sterilized container and store covered in the refrigerator. Aim to use it within 1 month. You can also purchase this at most liquor stores and supermarkets in the spirit section. If you prefer to use something you already have in your pantry, you can substitute simple syrup with maple syrup or honey in a 1-to-1 ratio; just keep in mind that this will slightly alter the flavor.
Step-by-step instructions
- In a large pitcher or other container, add the chopped apple, orange slices, and lemon slices.
- Stir in wine, orange liqueur, simple syrup, and orange juice.
- Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 8 hours. After chilling and before serving, stir sangria to recombine.
- Serve in chilled glasses with ice, garnishing with fresh raspberries.
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: This recipe makes 12 cocktails with about 5 ounces of sangria each.
- Storage: Transfer to a jar or pitcher with a lid and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- Make ahead: Stir together this Red Sangria (without the fruit) up to 3 days in advance and refrigerate until cocktail time. Add fruit 2 to 8 hours before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course. A white wine-based sangria is my go-to summer party beverage. Check out my White Sangria for a crisp classic, or if you prefer something sweeter, don’t miss my Moscato Sangria.
Oranges, lemons, and apples are the fruits most frequently included in sangria recipes in Spain, but as you can tell here, I’m taking liberties and making this my own with the fresh raspberry garnish. Feel free to customize as desired with your favorite fresh fruits based on what’s in season. Other berries, peach slices, sliced strawberries, wedges of pears, and sliced limes would also taste amazing.
Of course! The spirit-free wine market is growing rapidly and there are a lot of excellent non-alcoholic red wines available. Start with one of those or sparkling red grape juice, then omit the orange liqueur and use 1 cup of orange juice (instead of ½ cup).
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Red Sangria Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tart apple such as Granny Smith, chopped
- 2 oranges thinly sliced
- 2 lemons thinly sliced
- 2 (750 mL) bottles fruity red wine such as Merlot (see note 1)
- 1/2 cup orange liqueur (4 ounces, see note 2)
- 1/2 cup simple syrup (4 ounces, see note 3)
- 1/2 cup orange juice (4 ounces)
- raspberries for serving
Instructions
- In a large serving pitcher or other container, add the chopped apple, orange slices, and lemon slices.
- Stir in wine, orange liqueur, simple syrup, and orange juice. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 8 hours.
- Stir sangria to recombine before serving. Serve in chilled glasses with ice, garnishing with fresh raspberries.
Notes
- Oranges: If you want to, buy 3 large oranges: 2 to slice and 1 to juice for the ½ cup of orange juice in the sangria.
- Red wine: Choose something inexpensive because you’re doctoring it up with lots of other flavors. Spanish wines such as Garnacha or Tempranillo provide a nice nod to the origins of sangria.
- Orange liqueur: Triple sec, Grand Mariner, Cointreau, or Curacao are all good options.
- Simple syrup: To make your own, in a small saucepan over medium heat, combine 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved (do not boil). Remove from heat and cool completely. Pour into a sterilized container and store covered in the refrigerator.
- Yield: This recipe makes 12 cocktails with about 5 ounces of sangria each.
Nutrition
Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.