Red, white, or rosé, there's a sangria recipe for everybody!
There’s nothing more beautiful than a freshly made pitcher of sangria. Made with a mixture of your favorite wines and fruits, this delightful punch-like cocktail is perfect for a warm summer day, a baby shower, or a casual night out with friends. Luckily for us, this drink isn’t a trend we have to worry about passing us by. Sangria—which comes from the Spanish word sangre, meaning blood—traces back 2,000 years ago to the Romans crossing into Spain and planting vineyards as they traveled. In order to safely drink the water, they would add alcohol to kill off bacteria. The earliest forms of sangria were most likely just watered-down wine combined with herbs and spices.
Thankfully, Sangria has had a bit of a glow up over the centuries.
From its roots in Spain, sangria first became popular in America when it was introduced at the 1964 World Fair in New York. Americans were quick to jump on board and welcome this new, flavorful beverage and as popularity grew, so did the variety. These days, we can easily find pre-made red, white, and sparkling sangrias on the liquor store shelves. However, everyone knows that if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. This is precisely why we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite sangria recipes for you to try out for your next event… or random Tuesday afternoon.
6 Iconically Delicious Sangria Recipes
Red Wine Sangria
Ingredients
750 ml Cabernet look for one with spice notes for best results
1 cup blackberry brandy
2 ounces simple syrup (optional)
1 cara cara orange
2 gala apples chopped
2 cups blackberries
2 cups strawberries hulled
2 cinnamon sticks
1 liter lemon-lime soda
Ice
Instructions
1) Combine all ingredients EXCEPT lemon-lime soda and ice in a large pitcher.
2) Chill in the refrigerator for at least a couple hours. Overnight or one to two days for best flavor.
3) Pour the soda in just before serving over ice.
Berry Cherry Sangria
Ingredients
1 cup cherries, pitted (fresh or frozen)
1 cup strawberries, sliced
1 cup blueberries
1/2 cup brandy
2 cups cherry-pomegranate juice, or cherry-cranberry juice
2 tablespoon powdered sugar
750 ml bottle red wine of your choice
12 ounces lemon-lime soda
Instructions
1) In a large sangria pitcher, combine cherries, strawberries, blueberries, brandy, cherry-pomegranate juice, and powdered sugar. Pour in red wine and stir gently. If desired, you can add lemon-lime soda at this point OR you can add it in after the next step.
2) Chill sangria for at least two hours before serving. If you waited to add the lemon-lime soda, add it to the pitcher and gently stir before opening.
White Sangria for All Seasons
Ingredients
1 bottle crisp white wine, such as Pinot Gris or Sauvignon Blanc
1/2 cup Cointreau or other orange liquor
2 cups fruit juice, such as peach or apple
4 cups chopped fruit, such as peaches, apples or strawberries
2 limes, thinly sliced
Instructions
1) In a large pitcher, combine all ingredients.
2) Gently stir then cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours and up to 12 hours.
3) When ready to serve, use a slotted spoon to portion out the fruit from the pitcher into serving glasses then pour the sangria on top.
Grilled Pineapple Strawberry Sangria
Ingredients
1/2 fresh pineapple, cubed (about 2 cups)
12 – 15 fresh strawberries, whole or halved
1 cup pineapple juice
1/4 cup Triple Sec or other orange liqueur
1 750 ml bottle dry white wine
2 cups sparkling water, (add just before serving)
Mint leaves, for garnish
Lime slices, for garnish
Instructions
1) Brush pineapple cubes lightly with oil to prevent sticking. Grill over medium heat until grill marks form and pineapple is warmed through and begins to caramelize. Remove from grill and set aside to cool.
2) Combine pineapple, strawberries, pineapple juice, Triple Sec and white wine in a large pitcher. Refrigerate overnight or for at least 2 hours to allow flavors to blend.
3) Add ice to a glass. Fill ¾ full with Sangria and top off with sparkling water or artisan tonic water. Garnish with skewered fruit, lime slices and/or mint leaves. Serve.
Strawberry Watermelon Rosé Sangria
Ingredients
1 small watermelon
2 cups chopped or sliced strawberries
1 lime, thinly sliced
1 bottle dry rosé wine
3/4 cup vodka
1/4 cup orange liqueur such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier
2 tablespoons honey or simple syrup (optional if you want a sweeter sangria)
Sparkling water
Instructions
1) Cut the watermelon in half. Take one half and remove the rind and cut into large chunks. Place the chunks in the blender and purée. Strain the purée until you’re left with 2 cups of watermelon juice.
2) Add the watermelon juice, rosé, vodka, orange liqueur and honey if you’re using it to a pitcher. Stir until the honey dissolves.
3) Use a cookie scoop or melon baller to scoop out balls from the other half of the watermelon. Add the watermelon balls, chopped strawberries and lime slices to the pitcher. Stir and chill for at least an hour or two.
4) Serve in glasses with ice and topped off with sparkling water. Garnish with a lime slice, strawberry or watermelon ball.
Sparkling Rosé Berry Sangria
Ingredients
¼ cup sugar preferably superfine but granulated is fine
¼ cup Chambord or other berry liqueur
2 cups sliced strawberries
2 cups blackberries
1 cup raspberries
1 cup white grape juice
1 bottle dry white wine such as sauvignon blanc
1 750 ml bottle sparkling rosé
½ cup small fresh basil leaves
Instructions
1) In a very large pitcher (or you can do this in a large bowl, and then divide it into two pitchers), combine the sugar and Chambord, and allow the sugar to dissolve. Add the strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries, toss to combine, then add the white grape juice and white wine. Refrigerate for 2 to 8 hours.
2) Just before serving add the sparkling rosé and basil. Serve in pretty glasses, such as these generously sized wine glasses, making sure some berries and basil get into each glass.
From the Romans to your favorite IG influencer, sangria is enjoyed by everyone. Whether you love red, white, or sparkling wine, there is a sangria out there for you. Use these recipes or experiment in your kitchen with the flavors you love. Have fun finding the perfect recipe and don’t forget to cheers as you enjoy this historically fantastic drink!
When you try out these recipes, don’t forget to take a picture and tag us @IconicWineBeauties on IG!