Spanish sangria is a relaxed, fruit-filled pitcher drink made for warm afternoons and shared tables. Red wine, citrus, apples, and a splash of brandy make it bright, juicy, and easy to prepare.
This classic-style version balances dry red wine with orange liqueur, brandy, a little simple syrup, and chilled sparkling water. The fruit infuses the drink while it rests, but the sangria stays fresh instead of overly sweet.
Chill the wine mixture with the fruit before adding ice or sparkling water. That keeps the sangria cold without watering it down and preserves the bubbles until serving.
Serving Suggestions
Serve over plenty of ice in stemless glasses with a piece of the soaked fruit. Sangria is especially good with tapas, grilled seafood, paella, or salty almonds.
Recipe Notes
Prepare the wine and fruit mixture up to 8 hours ahead. Add sparkling water just before serving. For a lower-alcohol pitcher, replace the brandy and liqueur with extra orange juice.
Classic Spanish Sangria
Equipment
- Large pitcher
- Citrus knife
- Long spoon
- Stemless glasses
Ingredients
Sangria
- 750 ml dry red wine one standard bottle
- 1/2 cup orange liqueur such as triple sec
- 1/4 cup brandy
- 1/4 cup simple syrup or to taste
- 1 medium orange thinly sliced
- 1 medium lemon thinly sliced
- 1 medium apple cored and diced
- 1 cup mixed berries optional
- 2 cups sparkling water chilled
- 2 cups ice for serving
Instructions
Infuse the Wine:
- Add the orange, lemon, apple, and berries to a large pitcher.
- Pour in the red wine, orange liqueur, brandy, and simple syrup. Stir gently and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or up to 8 hours.
Finish and Serve:
- Just before serving, stir in the chilled sparkling water.
- Fill stemless glasses with ice and spoon in some of the fruit. Pour over the sangria and serve immediately.
Notes
- Use a dry, affordable red wine with enough fruit character to stand up to the citrus.
- Add the sparkling water at the last moment so the drink stays lively.
- For a non-alcoholic version, use alcohol-free red wine or grape juice with orange juice and sparkling water.