Refreshing and fruity, sangria always hits the spot on hot summer days. Learn how to make your own sangria in minutes for a refreshing treat.
Why this recipe works
- It is a foundational recipe: The basis of this recipe is wine, brandy, and desired fruit. Once you learn the ratios, you can create any sangria you want.
- Classic taste: This is the traditional sangria flavor. Not so tart that it tastes like just wine, and not so fruity it tastes like.
- So easy you can not mess it up. I am not a bartender, and I do not have formal training in mixology, but this recipe has come out tops for me!
Ingredients
- Wine: For the classical taste of sangria, you need to use red wine. I like to use a dry red wine like a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Malbec. My husband enjoys Malbec, so that is usually the base for my sangria. But if you are partial to sweet wine, consider using a Port wine.
- Brandy: For this recipe, I used Gran Gala, an orange brandy liqueur I had bought when I was making a Tiramisu. Grand Marnier works well or any other favorite flavored liqueur.
- Whisky: I only used the cinnamon whiskey to add extra flavor and booze. Cinnamon sticks work well, and they are what is commonly used.
- Fruit: Apples, pears, oranges, berries, cherries, figs, guavas. The fruit world is your oyster when it comes to making sangria. Be creative!!!
Variations/Substitutions
Play with different wines, brandy, and fruits to create an array of different sangrias.
Step-by-step Instructions
- Cut your fruits. Consider how you are going to serve it. You can cut the fruits into large cubes or slices.
- Place the cut fruit inside a large pitcher.
- Add an entire bottle of red vine.
- Add a cup of brandy and about a shot of cinnamon whiskey (the cinnamons whiskey can be adjusted to taste)
- Stir
- Serve over ice and garnish with more fruit. Best if the mixture macerates the fruit for at least 30 minutes to an hour.
Expert Tips
- If you are making this recipe ahead, do not add ice to the pitcher. Mix in a pitcher and refrigerate until service.
- Consider refrigerating the wine, brandy, and whiskey if you want to make the sangria and serve it immediately.
- Plan ahead! Macerate (soak) the fruits and cinnamon sticks in the Brady for at least an hour before you make sangria to draw out the flavors before making the sangria. Use the brandy and fruits for the final product.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sangria is a mixture of wine(s), fruits, spices, and liqueurs.
Because it is a mixture of many different liqueurs and wines, it is not a "pure" wine. And it falls in the category of a punch.
Most certainly. Most sangria is made with a type of wine, sweet, dry, or bubbly. Many sangrias have an added liqueur as well. Unless it is specifically labeled as "virgin," which, in that case, you are drinking fruit punch.
It could be more alcoholic than wine, depending on how it is made. Adding liqueur does add more alcohol to the final product.
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📖 Recipe
Sangria
Ingredients
- 1 apple or choice of fruit
- 1 orange or choice of fruit
- 1 Cup bing cherries or choice of fruit
- 1 Cup brandy
- 1 Bottle red wine
- 1-2 cinnamon sticks or a shot of cinnamon whiskey
- 1 Shot cinnamon whiskey
Instructions
- Cut your fruits. Consider how you are going to serve it. You can cut the fruits into large cubes or slices.
- Place the cut fruit inside a large pitcher.
- Add an entire bottle of red vine.
- Add a cup of brandy and about a shot of cinnamon whiskey (the cinnamons whiskey can be adjusted to taste)
- Mix. And served over ice.
Notes
- If you are making this recipe ahead, do not add ice to the pitcher. Mix in pitcher and refrigerate until service.
- Consider refrigerating the wine, brandy, and whiskey if you want to make the sangria and serve immediately.
- Plan ahead! Macerate (soak) the fruits and cinnamon stick in the brady at least an hour before you make the sangria to draw out the flavors, before making the sangria. Use the brandy and fruits for the final product