Spanish · Drinks

Red Wine Sangria

Spanish red wine steeped overnight with brandy, citrus and stone fruit, topped with soda only at the moment of serving. The overnight rest is what turns it from wine with fruit in it into sangria.

Not yet ratedThis recipe has no ratings yet 15 min hands on plus 4 hr chilling Serves 6 servings Easy
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Red Wine Sangria — Spanish drinks recipe, served and ready to eat

Photograph credit: Sangria by svensmail · CC0 1.0 · Flickr

Method

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  1. Put the sugar in a large jug with the orange and lemon slices and press them together with a spoon for 30 seconds to release the citrus oils.

  2. Add the brandy and orange liqueur and stir until the sugar has dissolved.

  3. Add the peaches, strawberries and cinnamon stick, then pour in the wine.

  4. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight. This rest is what makes sangria taste like sangria.

  5. Just before serving, remove the cinnamon stick and taste — add a little more sugar if the wine is very dry.

  6. Add the ice and top up with chilled soda water, stirring gently once.

  7. Serve in glasses with plenty of the fruit and a sprig of mint.

Chef’s Tips

  • Use a wine you would happily drink on its own. Sangria does not rescue bad wine, it amplifies it.
  • Do not add the soda water early. Flat sangria is a sad drink.
  • For a white version, use Albariño with peaches, apples and elderflower liqueur.

Pairing Suggestions

  • Serve with tapas — patatas bravas, tortilla, olives
  • A good match for grilled meat or paella
  • Best drunk outdoors in the heat

Storage & Reheating

The steeped base keeps 2 days refrigerated. Add ice and soda only when serving.

Common questions

How long does Red Wine Sangria take to make?

About 15 minutes of hands-on work — 15 minutes of preparation and of cooking — plus 4 hours of chilling, so allow 4 hours 15 minutes from start to finish. The recipe serves 6.

What are the key tips for making Red Wine Sangria?

Use a wine you would happily drink on its own. Sangria does not rescue bad wine, it amplifies it. Do not add the soda water early. Flat sangria is a sad drink. For a white version, use Albariño with peaches, apples and elderflower liqueur.

What should I serve with Red Wine Sangria?

Serve with tapas — patatas bravas, tortilla, olives; A good match for grilled meat or paella; Best drunk outdoors in the heat.

How should Red Wine Sangria be stored?

The steeped base keeps 2 days refrigerated. Add ice and soda only when serving.

Is Red Wine Sangria suitable for a special diet?

This recipe is vegan, gluten-free and vegetarian. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.

How many calories are in Red Wine Sangria?

About 212 kcal per serving, with 1 g protein, 22 g carbohydrate and 0 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.

Nutritional Highlights

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.

212Calories
1gProtein
22gCarbs
0gFat
2gFibre
18gSugar
15mgSodium

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Written and tested by Turab

One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.