The Ultimate Holiday Sangria | Best Red Sangria Recipe Ever (2024)

FAQs

What is the best red wine for sangria? ›

The best wine for sangria is Garnacha (also called Grenache) or Pinot Noir. Garnacha comes from Spain, so it's my top pick for authentic Spanish sangria! Choose an inexpensive wine (under $20) that you would enjoy on its own. Why Garnacha and Pinot Noir?

Spanish Sangria Ingredients:

If you ask bartenders here in Spain how to make sangria, they will be the first to tell you that — technically — there is no standard way to make sangria. It's really just a wine punch made with seasonal fruit, sweetener, a good splash of brandy, and possibly something fizzy added in.

Originally, sangria was aged wine mixed with fruit and spices, such as cinnamon, then evolved through time into regional variations. Our recipe combines red wine with orange juice, brandy, apples, blueberries, strawberries, and a cinnamon stick to create the classic fruity, spiced flavor.

I let mine chill for at least 8 hours before serving, or overnight for the best flavor. Taste and adjust. Whenever you're making a co*cktail at home, be sure to taste and adjust it to your liking. If you prefer a sweeter sangria, add an extra splash of orange juice or a little maple syrup.

"When choosing a brandy, it is best to go toward a Spanish one made with Spanish grapes," said Trujillo. "I find Carlos I Solera Gran Reserva Brandy to be perfect for sangria." This brandy was aged in American oak casks and has notes of vanilla and caramel.

Sangria, wine mixed with fruit, has always been legal and available. The issue comes about when Sangria is mixed with brandy or other spirits that raises the alcohol content of the drink. Alcohol-boosted Sangria was illegal because of a 1934 law formed post-prohibition to keep the percentage of alcohol low in drinks.

The name sangria once meant “blood,” which it got because of its dark red color. Mexican sangria is similar to the fruit and wine of Spanish sangria, but it has a higher alcohol content. The high alcohol content makes this drink a great pairing with spicy food, like hot salsa.

It is recommended to add citrus, stone or tropical fruits for the perfect Sangria. If you prefer softer fruits such as berries, watermelon or melon, then add them just before serving so they don't get too soft and mushy. Don't forget to add a splash of sparkling water or soda for a little bit of extra fizz.

EU law says bottles from Spain are limited by law to less than 12% alcohol by volume (ABV). Bottles produced in the U.S. usually have between 5% and 15%. Sangria made with red wine is usually stronger than white wine punches.

How long is homemade sangria? ›

Classic Spanish sangria is made with red wine, fruit, a little sugar and brandy. Once all of the ingredients are combined, they allow the sangria to sit for a few hours, usually overnight.

If you taste the sangria just after mixing it, you'll probably think it tastes harsh or unbalanced. After a night in the fridge, it will taste mellow and juicy. Sangria gets better and better as it sits.

"The fruit will get mealy and limp, and the sangria will taste bitter," says Martinez. In general, aim for at least 30 minutes but no more than 2 hours, as in this recipe for Blood Orange Sangria.

What's the best white wine for sangria? Since we are adding a lot of other sweet components to this drink we like to keep the white wine dry and high in acidity. Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo or a dry Riesling would all work great here.

"Remember, you are adding sugar, juices, fruit, and brandy, so using really nice wine is kind of a waste," explains Flaherty. "Just like a mimosa, don't use the good Champagne." Also, it's best to avoid really dry, tannic reds and buttery, oaky whites when making sangria at home.

Wine takes the center stage in this pitcher co*cktail, so choose a wine that is fruity but dry, has good acidity, and is lower in tannins. Feel free to try other fruit-driven wines, like Merlot or Malbec. Just select a style that is not too tannic or heavily oaken.

Sangria is a wine punch, also known as an aromatized wine. It combines wine with fruit, fruit juices, and other aromatic ingredients like herbs and spices. Traditionally, the mix of ingredients depended on local custom — each region had a unique recipe, but the classic mix is Spanish red wine with oranges.

Sangria is a dark slightly purplish red. It is the color of Sangría wine. It is named after this wine. Sangria can also be called a burnt red.