Classic Spanish Sangria
This Classic Spanish Sangria is everything a party drink should be: bold red wine softened by sweet brandy, brightened with fresh citrus juice and fruit, and kissed with a little sugar and orange liqueur. The secret is an overnight chill that lets all the gorgeous flavors meld together, making it taste like you spent hours on it when really you spent about 15 minutes. It's deeply flavorful, incredibly easy to pull together, and makes a stunning pitcher centerpiece for any gathering.
Equipment
- Large glass pitcher At least 2-quart capacity; wide-mouthed for easy stirring and pouring
- Long bar spoon or wooden spoon For stirring
- Sharp knife and cutting board For slicing fruit
- Citrus juicer or reamer For freshly squeezing orange juice
- Measuring cups and measuring spoons
- Plastic wrap or pitcher lid For covering during chilling
- Wine glasses or large goblets For serving
Ingredients
- 750 ml dry Spanish red wine 1 bottle; Garnacha, Tempranillo, or Rioja recommended
- 3 oz brandy 90 ml
- 2 oz triple sec or Cointreau 60 ml; orange liqueur
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar More or less to taste
- 1 cup fresh orange juice 240 ml; from about 2 large oranges
- 1 cup fresh lemonade or lemon-lime soda 240 ml; added just before serving
- 1 orange Thinly sliced into rounds, about 1/4 inch thick
- 1 lemon Thinly sliced into rounds
- 1 lime Thinly sliced into rounds
- 1 cup fresh strawberries Hulled and halved
- 1 cup green or red grapes Halved
- 1 apple Cored and diced into 1/2-inch cubes; skin on for color
For Serving
- ice For serving
- fresh mint Optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Wash all fruit thoroughly and pat dry. Slice the orange, lemon, and lime into thin 1/4-inch rounds; hull and halve the strawberries; halve the grapes; and core and dice the apple into 1/2-inch cubes. Set aside in a bowl.
- Pour the sugar into the bottom of a large pitcher, add the fresh orange juice, and stir vigorously for about 60 seconds until the sugar is completely dissolved with no gritty texture remaining.
- Pour in the red wine slowly, then add the brandy and triple sec or Cointreau. Stir gently for about 30 seconds to combine everything evenly.
- Add the citrus slices first, pressing them gently against the sides of the pitcher, then add the strawberries, grapes, and diced apple. Give everything one final gentle stir to submerge the fruit.
- Cover the pitcher tightly with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 8 hours, preferably overnight; do not add ice or soda at this stage.
- Taste and adjust sweetness or acidity as needed, then stir in the lemonade or lemon-lime soda just before serving. Pour over ice-filled glasses, making sure to include some fruit in each glass, and garnish with fresh mint if desired.
Notes
- Use an affordable but tasty Spanish red wine in the $10–$15 range — spending more is unnecessary as sangria transforms simple wine beautifully.
- Always use freshly squeezed orange juice rather than bottled for the brightest, most vibrant flavor.
- Do not skip the brandy — it provides the signature warmth and depth that separates authentic sangria from basic wine punch.
- Chill the sangria for at least 8 hours (overnight preferred); a minimum of 4 hours will still yield good results if you're short on time.
- Always add the lemonade or lemon-lime soda just before serving to preserve carbonation and freshness.
- Taste the sangria before serving and adjust sweetness with a little extra sugar or balance acidity with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
- Slice fruit thin (about 1/4 inch) so it releases more juice, floats beautifully, and infuses the drink more effectively.
- Store leftover sangria covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; strain out the fruit after 48 hours to prevent it from becoming mushy.
- For a white sangria variation, swap the red wine for Albariño or Pinot Grigio and use peaches, green grapes, and cucumber.
- This recipe scales up easily — simply multiply all ingredients for a larger batch and hold back the soda until just before serving.
Nutrition
Serving: 1ServingCalories: 175kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 1gSodium: 8mgPotassium: 210mgFiber: 1gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 2IUVitamin C: 25mgCalcium: 2mgIron: 4mg
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