Sangria Recipe: Classic Spanish Red Sangria With Fruit and Brandy

This sangria recipe makes a pitcher of six glasses with bright citrus, crisp apple and a gentle warmth from brandy. It takes about 10 minutes to put together, and the refrigerator does the rest. The keys to great sangria are a fruity, inexpensive wine, enough chilling time and a light hand with the sugar.

Classic Red Sangria

A fruity pitcher of Spanish red wine sangria with orange, apple, lemon and a splash of brandy, topped with club soda.

Prep10 minutes mins

Total2 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Servings6 glasses

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Equipment

• Large pitcher
• Long spoon
• Sharp knife and cutting board

Ingredients

• 1 bottle dry red wine 750 ml, such as Tempranillo or Garnacha
• 1/4 cup brandy
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 2 tbsp sugar or to taste
• 1 orange thinly sliced
• 1 apple cored and diced
• 1/2 lemon thinly sliced
• 1 cup club soda chilled, added before serving

Instructions

• Stir the brandy, orange juice and sugar together in a large pitcher until the sugar dissolves.
• Add the orange, apple and lemon, then pour in the wine and stir gently.
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or up to overnight. If chilling overnight, remove the lemon slices after a few hours.
• Just before serving, stir in the club soda. Pour over ice, adding a few pieces of fruit to each glass.

Notes

Nutrition is estimated per glass, including a share of the fruit, from USDA FoodData Central values. Each glass holds about one standard drink. For adults 21 and over.

Nutrition

Per glass, estimated

Calories

180 kcal

Total fat

0 g

Saturated fat

0 g

Cholesterol

0 mg

Sodium

10 mg

Carbohydrates

17 g

Fiber

1 g

Sugars

12 g

Protein

1 g

Choosing the Wine

Sangria is a Spanish drink, so Spanish reds are a natural fit. A young Tempranillo, such as a basic Rioja, or a Garnacha gives juicy berry flavor without heavy tannins. Otherwise, any dry, fruity red works, including Merlot or a light Pinot Noir.

Skip expensive bottles, because fruit, juice and sugar cover their subtle flavors. On the other hand, avoid very cheap, harsh wine, since sangria won’t hide a sour or bitter base. A bottle you would happily drink on its own, at a modest price, is the sweet spot.

How Long to Chill Sangria

Time is what turns wine with fruit floating in it into sangria. After about 2 hours in the refrigerator, the citrus and apple start to flavor the wine. For a deeper, more blended taste, chill it for 4 hours or overnight.

However, longer is not always better. Orange and lemon peels contain a bitter white pith, and after a long soak, they can make the drink taste harsh. If you plan to chill sangria overnight, remove the lemon slices after a few hours, or use thinly sliced fruit with as little pith as possible.

How Strong Is Sangria?

Sangria tastes light, so it is easy to underestimate. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, a standard drink contains 0.6 fluid ounces of pure alcohol. That equals 5 fluid ounces of table wine at about 12% alcohol, or 1.5 fluid ounces of 80-proof spirits.

Using those figures, here is roughly how much alcohol a pitcher holds, depending on how it is made:

In other words, each of the six glasses from this recipe holds about one standard drink. Wines vary, though, and many reds run stronger than 12%, so treat these as estimates. For a lighter pitcher, leave out the brandy or add more club soda.

Calories in Sangria

Based on USDA FoodData Central values, a glass of this sangria, including its share of the fruit, has about 180 calories. By comparison, a 5-ounce glass of red wine alone has about 125. The difference comes mainly from the brandy, juice and sugar, so you can lighten the pitcher by cutting the sugar or skipping it if your wine is fruity.

Variations

• White sangria: use a crisp white wine such as Albariño or Sauvignon Blanc with peaches, green apple and lime.
• Rosé sangria: pair a dry rosé with strawberries, raspberries and a splash of orange juice.
• Winter sangria: add a cinnamon stick, pear slices and pomegranate seeds for a holiday pitcher.
• Berry sangria: stir in a cup of mixed berries just before serving, so they stay firm.
• Alcohol-free sangria: replace the wine with chilled hibiscus tea or unsweetened red grape juice mixed with a little lemon juice, and skip the brandy.

Serving Tips

Serve sangria cold, over plenty of ice, with a few pieces of fruit in each glass. Add the club soda just before serving, because it goes flat in the refrigerator. For a crowd, double the recipe in a large drink dispenser. Sangria also pairs well with party food such as deviled eggs and homemade meatballs.

Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator, and strain out the fruit first, since it turns soft and bitter as it sits. For a cozy drink on colder evenings, try homemade hot chocolate instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

About this recipe: nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central values, and standard drink figures follow the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.