Drinks
Homemade Sangria: Classic Spanish Red Wine Sangria Recipe
Homemade sangria with red wine, orange, lemon, apple, cinnamon, a splash of brandy and sparkling water. Fresh, fruity and ready to serve in 2 hours.
- Total time
- 135 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Cuisine
- Spanish
Ingredients
For the fruit
For the sangria
To serve
Method
Slice the fruit
Wash the fruit. Cut the orange and lemon into thin slices and the apple into small dice, skin on.
Dissolve the sugar
In a large pitcher, stir the sugar with the brandy and orange juice until dissolved.
Add the fruit and cinnamon
Add the orange, lemon, apple and cinnamon stick to the pitcher.
Pour in the wine
Add the red wine and stir gently to combine with the fruit.
Chill
Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours so the fruit releases its flavor.
Fill glasses with ice
Fill the glasses with ice cubes just before serving.
Top with sparkling water
Pour the sangria into the glasses with some fruit and top with a splash of very cold sparkling water.
Serve
Serve the sangria well chilled, with an orange slice on the rim of each glass.
The step photos are illustrative.
Notes
Tips
- Choose a young, fruity red such as Tempranillo or Garnacha; heavily oaked wines turn bitter.
- Do not steep it longer than 24 hours: the citrus peel starts to make it bitter.
- Add the sparkling water and ice in the glass, not the pitcher, so it does not get watery.
- Taste before serving and adjust with a little more sugar or orange juice.
Substitutions
- Brandy: orange liqueur or rum, same amount.
- Sparkling water: lemon-lime soda if you like it sweeter.
- Fruit: peaches, strawberries or grapes in season.
- Alcohol-free: red grape juice instead of wine, and no brandy.
Storage
Keep leftover sangria covered in the fridge for up to 2 days, removing the citrus peel so it does not turn bitter. Do not store sangria already mixed with sparkling water: it goes flat.
Nutrition facts
1 glass (1/8 of the pitcher)
- Protein
- 0.7 g
- Carbohydrates
- 15.2 g
- Fat
- 0.1 g
- Saturated fat
- 0 g
- Fiber
- 1.1 g
- Sugars
- 11.5 g
- Sodium
- 18 mg
Estimate per glass, calculated with red wine, brandy, orange juice, sugar, orange, lemon, apple and sparkling water.
Reference source: USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy April 2018
For general information only; it does not replace advice from a qualified health or nutrition professional.
About this recipe
Sangria is Spain's most famous summer drink: young red wine steeped with fresh fruit, a little sugar and a splash of brandy, served very cold over ice. The key is resting time: leave it in the fridge for at least 2 hours so the fruit releases its juice and the wine picks up orange, apple and cinnamon aromas. Use a fruity red without much oak, such as a young Tempranillo or Garnacha, and add the sparkling water just before serving so it keeps its fizz. It is an easy make-ahead drink for gatherings, barbecues or a family paella.
Frequently asked questions
What wine is best for sangria?
A young, fruity, inexpensive red such as Tempranillo or Garnacha. It does not need to be expensive, but it should be a wine you enjoy on its own.
How long should sangria sit?
Ideally 2 to 4 hours in the fridge. You can make it the night before, but no longer than 24 hours.
Can I make sangria without alcohol?
Yes. Replace the wine with red grape juice, skip the brandy and top with sparkling water when serving.
When do I add the soda?
Right before serving, in each glass. If you add it to the pitcher ahead of time, it goes flat.
What fruit goes in traditional sangria?
Orange, lemon and apple are the base. In summer, peaches are a common addition.
