An easy Red Sangria recipe is the perfect cocktail for all year round! Fruity, refreshing, and lightly spiced with cinnamon, it’s a gorgeous drink that’s great for gatherings, parties or just relaxing on the porch!
This post may include affiliate links that earn us a small commission from your purchases at no extra cost to you.
What’s in Red Wine Sangria?
This sangria recipe is a perfectly sweet cocktail that blends red wine, brandy, and orange liqueur with apples, oranges, and cinnamon for a sumptuous cocktail that’s great for sharing! This is a boozy punch that’s packed with flavor.
- Red Wine: My go-to is pinot noir, but you can use your favorite fruity red wine.
- Brandy: Adds an extra fruity and sweet flavor.
- Orange Liqueur: Adds a citrus kick. Use cointreau, triples sec, or whatever you have on hand.
- Orange Juice: Because you can’t have too much tangy citrus in sangria.
- Apples: One red and one green for a flavor twist.
- Oranges: Thinly sliced to release the juices.
- Cinnamon Sticks: Add complex spice.
- Sugar: Finishes off the round, sweet taste of the cocktail.
Ingredient Swaps
Double the cointreau instead of brandy! If you don’t have any brandy on hand and you love that zesty orange kick, simply add an extra 1/3rd cup of your favorite orange-flavored liquor in place of brandy. You might find that it’s more reminiscent of a margarita!
Use simple syrup for a smoother finish. If you don’t have a lot of time for your red sangria to absorb the sugar, try using simple syrup instead! About 3 ounces will ensure the sweetness is evenly dispersed throughout this delicious, fruity drink.
Sangria is a Spanish cocktail consisting of red wine mixed with fresh diced fruit and spices.
Ideally, you want a red wine that is fruity but dry and low in tannins. I used pinot noir, but you can also use zinfandel, merlot, or get adventurous and choose a traditional Spanish wine, such as Garnacha (the most traditional), Rioja, or Tempranillo. Wines with a lot of tannins tend to taste astringent when chilled, so avoid cabernet sauvignon, syrah, or malbec.
To make sangria less boozy, omit the brandy.
You sure can! This is a pretty traditional sangria recipe, but feel free to switch up the fruits with the changing seasons. We love adding cranberries during the winter months, and fresh raspberries and pears are refreshingly delicious during the summer!
How long does sangria need to be refrigerated?
This red sangria recipe is best when the fruits and cinnamon sticks have had time to infuse into the drink. If you plan to enjoy it at night, try making it in the morning for 8 hours of soak time. If you’re working on shorter notice, make sure the drink has at least 2 hours to soak in the fridge.
How to Garnish
Throw in some dried orange slices, seltzer water, and rosemary sprigs in each sangria glass to make a picture-worthy cocktail!
What to Serve with Red Sangria
This red wine sangria is perfect for any season, so serve it up as a refreshing summer cocktail, or around the holidays as a Christmas cocktail! It pairs well with a charcuterie board, or appetizers like blue cheese stuffed olives, baked provolone with grapes and walnuts, candied walnuts, baked brie, or herb-marninated mozzarella.
Red Sangria Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 orange thinly sliced
- 1 red apple cored and thinly sliced into moons
- 1 green apple cored and thinly sliced into moons
- 3-4 tablespoons granulated sugar depending on how sweet you want it
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 750 mL red wine (1 bottle) I used Pinot Noir
- 1 cup orange juice
- ⅓ cup brandy
- ¼ cup orange liqueur Cointreau recommended
Optional Garnishes
- Seltzer water
- Fresh rosemary sprigs
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, place the fruit and sprinkle the sugar on top. Mix and let it sit for 20 minutes.1 orange, 1 red apple, 1 green apple, 3-4 tablespoons granulated sugar
- Add the cinnamon sticks, wine, orange juice, brandy, and Cointreau. Mix well and place in the refrigerator for at least two hours. I recommend overnight, but at least two hours, so you get the full fruity flavor.2 cinnamon sticks, 750 mL red wine, ⅓ cup brandy, ¼ cup orange liqueur, 1 cup orange juice
- Pour the sangria in a glass with ice, together with the fruit.
- Garnish with extra fruit or cinnamon sticks if you'd like. You can also top off with seltzer water and rosemary.Seltzer water, Fresh rosemary sprigs
Video
Becky’s Tips
- Look for a fruity, low tannin wine, such as pinot noir, zinfandel, merlot, Garnacha (the most traditional), Rioja, or Tempranillo. Avoid cabernet sauvignon, syrah, or malbec.
- Red wine is classic, but you can also use white wine, moscato, or even champagne.
- If you’re not a fan of brandy, feel free to sub in any other liqueur that you like, or omit it completely for a less boozy cocktail.
- Mix up the fruits with the seasons or to your tastes.
- Add herbs to boost the flavors. Fresh ginger or sprigs of mint or rosemary would be delicious.
- Feel free to top your sangria off with club soda after it chills if you like bubbles.
- Don’t skimp on chilling time. This sangria needs at least 2 hours for the flavors to meld, but I recommend 8 or even overnight!
- You can save a little prep time by starting with chilled red wine.
- Don’t be afraid to experiment. Taste the sangria frequently and adjust to your liking.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
