Easy Sangria Recipe with Clean Wine (2024)

FAQs

What kind of wine is best for sangria? ›

A traditional Spanish red wine with plenty of backbone and a hint of spice (like Garnacha, Tempranillo, or a Rioja blend) will always lead you to a supremely balanced glass of red sangria.

Mix red wine, brandy, triple sec, lemonade concentrate, orange juice, lemon juice, and sugar together in a bowl. Add orange, lemon and lime slices, and maraschino cherries. Serve immediately over ice, or refrigerate 8 hours to overnight for best flavor. For a fizzy sangria, add club soda just before serving.

It's best to avoid using your expensive, high-end bottles of wine when making sangria, unless you have a bottle that's been open for a few days and won't be palatable on its own. "Remember, you are adding sugar, juices, fruit, and brandy, so using really nice wine is kind of a waste," explains Flaherty.

The locals, looking for refreshment, made fruit-infused, watered-down drinks from the hefty red wines of the region. We know that the tradition of wine consumption at the time was to dilute wine with water, so this makes sense. One theory states that the drink was simply called “sangria” after the color of blood.

“For Sangria at home, choose a wine that is dry but fruity at the same time.

Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight. The sangria gets softer, sweeter, and much more delicious overnight in the fridge. Top with sparkling water. When ready to serve, top off the sangria with sparkling water.

EU law says bottles from Spain are limited by law to less than 12% alcohol by volume (ABV). Bottles produced in the U.S. usually have between 5% and 15%. Sangria made with red wine is usually stronger than white wine punches.

"When choosing a brandy, it is best to go toward a Spanish one made with Spanish grapes," said Trujillo. "I find Carlos I Solera Gran Reserva Brandy to be perfect for sangria." This brandy was aged in American oak casks and has notes of vanilla and caramel.

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.

Do you need expensive wine for sangria? ›

Sangria is a great, inexpensive big batch co*cktail to make for a crowd. No need to purchase an expensive bottle of wine, an inexpensive bottle of dry red wine will do the trick!

Key Takeaway: Red and white sangria are made with different wines. There is no way to tell which one is better. It all boils down to personal preference. However, don't be afraid to experiment with recipes for your bar or restaurant.

"The fruit will get mealy and limp, and the sangria will taste bitter," says Martinez. In general, aim for at least 30 minutes but no more than 2 hours, as in this recipe for Blood Orange Sangria. If using sparkling wine, let all of the other ingredients mingle and top it off with the bubbly at the last minute.

Most sangria recipes call for letting the wine rest overnight, or at least for a few hours in the refrigerator. This lets the fruit infuse the wine, getting its juices in the mix and sweetening the drink.

Tannins are naturally created during the winemaking process due to grape skins and seeds. Tannins tend to give the wine a bitter flavor. This is important because tannins do not taste good when they're cold, and sangria is typically served chilled.

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!

The difference between red and white sangria is the wine used in the recipe. White sangria can be made with various white wines. They make the taste crisper and add fruitier notes. Classic sangria, on the other hand, is made with heavier red wines, which bring richer and bolder flavors to the drink.

Red sangria is made with red wine, and white sangria with white wine. There are several regional variations of sangria, so ingredients vary. In addition to wine, traditional sangria may contain: Fruit juice, typically such as orange juice.

Sangria is a wine punch, also known as an aromatized wine. It combines wine with fruit, fruit juices, and other aromatic ingredients like herbs and spices. Traditionally, the mix of ingredients depended on local custom — each region had a unique recipe, but the classic mix is Spanish red wine with oranges.