Simple and Fruity, this Red Sangria Recipe is perfect for sharing! Made with fresh fruit, red wine, brandy, and pomegranate juice, this delicious cocktail can be doubled or tripled to make entertaining a breeze!
I love making fun cocktails throughout the holidays! My Cranberry Margaritas are the perfect way to get the party started, and there’s nothing better than ringing in the bells with Pomegranate Cranberry Champagne Punch. Cheers!
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Best Sangria Recipe
This is one of the BEST sangria recipes you will ever make! This Red Sangria Recipe is fruity, not too sweet, and loaded with both fresh fruits and citrus. Sangria is one of my favorite drinks to make for entertaining a crowd. It’s easy to make and can be customized any way you like.
All you need for this sangria is a good dry table wine, brandy, fresh fruit, and one of your favorite juices. I love using pomegranate juice however pineapple or orange juice would also go great in this sangria.
This is an easy cocktail to make for large parties because it only has a few ingredients and is easy to double or triple, plus it takes less than 15 minutes to throw together! It’s the perfect drink for holiday parties and Christmas festivities!
For best results allow the red sangria recipe to set overnight. The fruit has more time to infuse into the wine. Don’t adjust the taste until you let it sit for a while. If you taste before it sets you may want to add more sugar. Don’t! The sangria gets sweeter and fruitier as it sets.
What’s in Sangria?
- Simple syrup: To sweeten this red sangria recipe I added a simple syrup made with equal parts water and sugar. You can leave it out if you like it to be on the drier side. You could also use a natural sweetener like agave or honey instead.
- Red wine: One whole bottle of dry red table wine is the base of this recipe. Dry red wines that I would recommend are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Tempranillo. Learn more about the best red wines for sangria here.
- Brandy: Brandy adds just a little more sweetness and alcohol to this cocktail.
- Pomegranate juice: Again, a little more sweetness, pomegranate juice is added as well. You can substitute orange juice, apple juice or pineapple juice if desired.
- Fresh fruit: I sliced up an apple, orange, and strawberries. I love how the sangria infuses with these fruity flavors! The best part about sangria is you can use whatever fruit and citrus you have on hand. Sometimes I add lemons and limes and other times I add in blackberries and raspberries!
More of a white wine fan? Then try my White Wine Sangria Recipe!
How to make red wine sangria
- Make the simple syrup: This sangria starts with a simple syrup made of equal parts sugar and water. The mixture is boiled until the sugar has dissolved. This usually takes 1-2 minutes.
- Add fruit to a large pitcher: Next add apples, oranges, and strawberries to a large pitcher.
- Add in wine and chill: Next add in red wine, brandy, pomegranate juice and cooled simple syrup and stir. Refrigerate red sangria for at least 2 hours or for best results overnight.
Tips for Success
- This sangria serves about 4-6 people but I usually double the recipe so everyone can have a couple of glasses.
- Add other fruit: Add whatever you have on hand! Raspberries, cherries, blueberries, cranberries, peaches, nectarines, limes pears, and pineapple are great options.
- Use a dry red wine rather than a sweet red wine, as we’ll add sweetness to this sangria wine with fruit, juice, syrup, and brandy.
- Make it a day before to let all of the flavors develop.
Storage Instructions for this Red Sangria Recipe
Store this sangria in a pitcher in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve. If you have any leftover (unlikely!) it can be stored for up to 5 days in the fridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is sangria?
Sangria is a Spanish cocktail that is made with either red or white wine. It usually includes fresh fruit as well, and sometimes alcohol like brandy is added for a little more punch.
What wine is best for a sangria?
For this Red Wine Sangria, I recommend using dry red wine. Some of my favorite varieties include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Tempranillo.
How far in advance should you make this Red Sangria Recipe?
Ideally, make this red sangria recipe the night before and chill it in the fridge. If you’re running out of time, make it at least 1 or 2 hours before serving so that it can chill.
What fruit goes best in sangria?
I like to add a mixture of 2-3 of the following: apple, orange, strawberries, raspberries, cherries, blueberries, cranberries, pears, and pineapple.
Love this Red Sangria Recipe? Give these other fun cocktails a try!
- Spiked Berry Lemonade
- Classic Mint Mojito
- Pineapple Sunset Cocktail
- Raspberry Sangria Popsicles
- White Wine Sangria
- Cranberry Margaritas
Red Wine Sangria
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 bottle red dry table wine
- 1/2 cup brandy
- 1 cup pomegranate juice
- 1 whole apple, sliced
- 1 whole orange, sliced
- 1 cup strawberries, sliced
Instructions
- Add sugar and water to a small saucepan. Over medium high heat bring the mixture to a boil. Cook until sugar is fully dissolved. Allow to cool.
- Add apples, oranges, and strawberries to a large pitcher.
- Add in red wine, brandy, pomegranate juice and cooled simple syrup and stir. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or for best results overnight.
Nutrition Information
Did you make this?
I’d love to hear your feedback! Leave a review and make sure to share your pictures on social media! Don’t forget to follow @thechefsavvy.
wellington kunze
will be making this one on the get together party awesome
Michele
Is it a small bottle of wine? Or the 1.5 liter?
Kelley
Hi Michelle,
I use 750 ml bottle of wine.
Thanks!
Kelley
Diana Leischner
Your recipe sounds really good! How do you think this would taste substituting orange juice for the pomegranate juice? Wanting to make this for a party and there are a few that definitely don’t care for pomegranate. Also hard to find a good recipe that doesn’t add club soda! Thanks!
Kelley
Hi Diana!
Yes that should work perfectly!!
Thanks & Enjoy!
Kelley
Holly
This is the second time that I make this .. so so easy and delicious! Thanks for the recipe
Kelley
So glad you enjoyed this!! Thank you!
Shaye
Hi! Any chance I can skip the simple syrup? Trying to look for a not-super-sweet sangria recipe if I can help it
Kelley
Hi Shaye!
Yes you can skip the simple syrup if you prefer!
Thanks & Enjoy!
Kelley
Teresa
Made this last nite! Cant wait to try it! How long will this last in the refrigerator? …on the crazy chance there’s leftovers ?
Kelley
Hi Teresa!!
I would say 2-3 days in the fridge!
Thanks & Enjoy,
Kelley
Rebecca
You don’t have to add sugar or water to make a great Sangria. Add more juice and leave out the other! I’ve been making Sangria for over 30 yrs, I’ve never added sugar or water!
Jenya
Hi! Thank you for the recipe! If I make it Thursday night , is it going be ok on Friday night? Thank you
Kelley
Yes! It will actually give more time for the flavors to develop.
Enjoy!
Kelley
April
This Sangria was so good! Thank you for posting the recipe. I had a girls night at my house and it was a big hit 🙂
Kelley Simmons
So glad you enjoyed this thank you!
Vanessa
I usually drink sangria in the summer but this version with the pomegranate juice is so perfect for the holidays! Thanks for the fabulous cocktail recipe!