In an effort to make the best Sangria, we tested 5 classic Sangria recipes. After testing, we concluded that the best recipes were surprisingly simple. You can try them all out yourself or pick one that best fits your mood.
#1 Tested Red Wine Sangria
- 1 bottle of red wine
- 1 cup ruby red grapefruit juice
- Juice from 2 limes
- ¼ cup sugar
Sangrias we tested:
- Ruby Red Sangria
- White Wine Sangria
- White Peach Sangria
- Spanish Sangria
- Red Wine and Brandy Sangria
The two Sangria recipes that won our hearts are White Peach Sangria and Ruby Red Wine Sangria.
TIP: We modified the recipes to only require one bottle of wine (for 1-4 people). If you have more people coming to drink your ‘Gria’, just double or triple the recipe as needed.
In Search of the Best Sangria Recipe
Ruby Red Wine Sangria
Ruby Red Wine Sangria Recipe
- 1 750 ml bottle of red wine (a medium bodied red wine like Garnacha, Merlot or Tempranillo)
- 1 cup ruby red grapefruit juice
- Juice from 2 limes
- ¼ cup sugar
TOP PICK: This recipe was one of our top picks even though it didn’t have the twinkle of soda water. The grapefruit juice adds another dimension with its slightly bitter note that actually worked surprisingly well with the red wine we used (a Grenache blend from Languedoc Roussillon). When we first tested it we added 1/2 cup of sugar but quickly realized that less is more. You’ll notice that this recipe is devoid of brandy or any other liquor. If you want, you can bump the flavor up a notch and add a ¼ to a ½ cup of brandy or vodka, just be sure to serve over ice.
Watch a 1 minute how to Ruby Red Wine Sangria Video
What Type of Wine Should You Use?
Don’t worry, there is not a standard wine for Sangria! However, if you’d like to make a sangria in tune with Spanish tradition, use Garnacha or find another Medium Bodied Red Wine. For white sangria, pick a zesty and/or aromatic white wine such as Torrontés, Chenin Blanc, Riesling or Pinot Gris. See a more complete list of white wines by style for inspiration.
White Wine Sangria
White Wine Sangria Recipe
- 1 750 ml bottle of white wine (a zesty or aromatic white wine like Torrontes, Chenin Blanc, Riesling or Pinot Grigio)
- ¼ – ½ cup sugar
- juice from 1 lemon
- fruit for garnish (peaches, apples, berries or citrus)
- Mint or Basil (if available)
You can use nearly any kind of fruit to garnish a White Wine Sangria. While some recipes call for the addition of rum, brandy, vodka or limoncello, we opted to use Cava instead. Use only a quarter cup of sugar if you tend to like ‘less sweet’ drinks. We liked this recipe just fine, but it somehow didn’t have the complexity we expect from a great co*cktail.
White Peach Sangria with Cava
White Peach Sangria with Cava Recipe
- 1 750 bottle of Cava or Prosecco (a zesty or aromatic white wine like Torrontes, Chenin Blanc, Riesling or Pinot Grigio)
- ¼ cup Brandy or Triple Sec
- 2-3 tablespoons sugar
- 3-4 White Peaches
- Juice from 1 Lemon
TOP PICK: This recipe was the best and it’s so simple. Add brandy and lemon juice to the bottom of your pitcher. Cut up the peaches into cubes and add with ice. Top with Cava or Prosecco and serve immediately. As you sip, the peaches macerate in your drink.
For the picture, we added a little red wine at the bottom of the glass to give it a pink color.
What is Sangria?
Sangria is the Spanish name for a sugar-sweetened wine and fruit co*cktail. Rumored to be first introduced to the US at the 1964 World’s Fair. Today, it’s the world’s most popular wine co*cktail (right up there with a Mimosa). In Barcelona, the most common hipster bar co*cktails we saw were: Sangria, Kalimoxto (cali-mo-cho) and Gin Tonic.
Classic Spanish Sangria
Classic Spanish Sangria Recipe
- 1 750 ml bottle of red wine (a medium bodied red wine like Garnacha, Merlot or Tempranillo)
- 1 cup soda water or Cava (Spanish Champagne) to top off
- ¼ – ½ cup sugar
- Juice from 1 orange or 1 lemon or 2 limes
- lime wheels for garnish
In the center square of Haro, Spain (in Rioja) you can find Sangria made from a simple Red Rioja (a blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha), granulated sugar, soda water and a few slices of citrus (oranges, lemons or limes). It’s prepared on the spot and served in a pitcher with ice and a stirring spoon to mix in the sugar. This style of Sangria is pretty tart and very refreshing. The taste of the wine really comes through. Use only a quarter cup of sugar if you tend to prefer ‘less sweet’ drinks.
We were surprised how many places make Sangria in Spain using Lemon-lime soda.
Emeril’s Red Wine Sangria
Emeril’s Red Wine Sangria Recipe
- 1 750 ml bottle of red wine (a medium bodied red wine like Garnacha, Merlot or Tempranillo)
- ¼ cup Triple Sec
- ¼ cup Brandy
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- Apples, Oranges and Lemon for garnish
You can find Emeril’s complete recipe and notes on the Food Network
We found this recipe to be pretty similar to the Spanish Sangria Recipe but it had much more depth and complexity of flavor because of the addition of brandy. It was even more awesome with tons of ice in our glasses and just a splash of soda on top.
FAQs
The best wine for sangria is Garnacha (also called Grenache) or Pinot Noir. Garnacha comes from Spain, so it's my top pick for authentic Spanish sangria! Choose an inexpensive wine (under $20) that you would enjoy on its own. Why Garnacha and Pinot Noir?
Is it better to make sangria the night before? ›
Don't skimp on the chilling time.
By chilling the sangria, you give the fresh fruits a chance to infuse the wine with sweet, fresh flavor. If you cut this time short, your sangria won't taste as fruity or as balanced. I let mine chill for at least 8 hours before serving, or overnight for the best flavor.
How do you doctor up sangria? ›
However, many more interesting ways exist to give this wine co*cktail a modern and/or upscale spin.
- Keep it chill with frozen fruit. ...
- Skip the sugar with cucumber. ...
- Bring floral notes with hibiscus. ...
- Add complexity with sherry. ...
- Amp up the flavor with whiskey. ...
- Add a botanical punch with gin. ...
- Take sangria to the tropics with rum.
If you taste the sangria just after mixing it, you'll probably think it tastes harsh or unbalanced. After a night in the fridge, it will taste mellow and juicy. Sangria gets better and better as it sits.
What is the best cheap wine for sangria? ›
"For whites, we love the tropical fruit flavors that Spanish Verdejo from Rueda brings to the sangria party like the Marques de Riscal," said White. "An inexpensive Italian pinot grigio is also easy to find at any wine shop and makes a great base for white sangria."
What is the best Italian wine for sangria? ›
Here are some tips for good wines to use: Jumilla, wines from Alicante and Valencia; Rioja and Priorat wines are also commonly used. In terms of Italian wines, you could go for a non-sparkling Bonarda, a Cannonau di Sardegna, or a red Salice Salentino.
Can you leave fruit in sangria overnight? ›
The rule of thumb for sangria preparation is to let the fruit pieces marinate in the alcoholic base while in the refrigerator for about 12 to 24 hours. This allows the fruits enough time to soak up and infuse their flavor into the wine.
What fruit is good for sangria? ›
Any juicy fruits (such as citrus, berries, grapes, pineapple, mango, kiwi, etc.) would be delicious. Add fresh ginger: If you would like to give your sangria a bit of a kick, muddle in a few slices of fresh ginger.
What is the best white wine for sangria? ›
What's the best white wine for sangria? Since we are adding a lot of other sweet components to this drink we like to keep the white wine dry and high in acidity. Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo or a dry Riesling would all work great here.
What red wine is best for sangria? ›
The experts swear these are some of the best red wines for summer sangria.
- Rioja. Rioja is actually crafted from a blend of grapes, including Tempranillo, Rousseau says. ...
- Garnacha. Garnacha is a medium-bodied wine that has a little more alcohol than others. ...
- 3. California Red Blend. ...
- Gamay Noir. ...
- Tempranillo. ...
- Pinot Noir.
The longer sangria sits in the refrigerator, the more the wine soaks into the fruit. I recommend refrigerating the sangria for at least 2 hours before serving, but preferably overnight.
Is fresh or frozen fruit better for sangria? ›
When it's time to serve, pop a few slices of the frozen fruits into each glass, pour your sangria over it, and savor each sip. The frozen fruit will keep your drink icy cold, won't dilute your drink, and you'll have some bonus wine-soaked fruits to enjoy after you've drained your glass!
What kind of brandy is good in sangria? ›
What Is the Best Brandy for Sangria? To keep the sangria authentic, use a Spanish brandy, such as brandy de Jerez. However, at such a low volume, the brandy doesn't have a huge impact on sangria. Feel free to pour any brandy you have in the bar.
Why does my sangria taste bitter? ›
According to Cookie and Kate, an important aspect of choosing the right base for your sangria is ensuring that the wine you pick is low in tannins. Tannins are naturally created during the winemaking process due to grape skins and seeds. Tannins tend to give the wine a bitter flavor.
What is a good bottled sangria? ›
Some popular brands known for producing high-quality bottled sangria include Eppa, Lolea, Beso del Sol, and Capriccio.
What white wine makes the best sangria? ›
When it comes to choosing the white wine for your sangria your best bets are dryer, more acidic, and crisp fresh whites like Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Vermentino, or Grenache Blanc. An Albariño, Moscato, or rosé would be nice too. But also, we live by the rule, pour what Paso Robles wine you like!
Is sangria better with white or red wine? ›
Traditionally, Sangria is made with Spanish red wine, most often Rioja, which is produced from the Tempranillo grape with smaller amounts of Garnacha (Grenache) and Graciano. Tempranillo is still widely used in Spain, but any medium-bodied red wine is suitable, including Merlot and Zinfandel.
Is white or red sangria sweeter? ›
Drier wines will need to be sweetened more, a lighter, sweeter wine won't need too much added to it. Typically the white sangria has a sweeter flavor than the red, but again, it's all up to you!
