The Ultimate Holiday Sangria | Best Red Sangria Recipe Ever (2024)

By: Krista

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Rating★★★★★ 4.9 from 8 votes

This easy Christmas sangria is filled with citrus, pomegranate, pear, and cinnamon for one irresistible holiday co*cktail! You’ll be the star of the holiday party with this easy co*cktail recipe!

Love sangria? Then you’ll love my White Wine Sangria and my classic Red Wine Sangria!

The Ultimate Holiday Sangria | Best Red Sangria Recipe Ever (1)

Table of Contents

  • The Ultimate Holiday Sangria
  • Why You’ll Love This Christmas Sangria Recipe
  • What is Sangria?
  • What You’ll Need for Christmas Sangria
  • How to Make Christmas Sangria
  • How Long Should I Let the Fruit Soak?
  • More Sangria Recipes to Try
  • More Holiday co*cktail Recipes
  • Get the Recipe

The Ultimate Holiday Sangria

No holiday is complete without a delicious sangria, in my humble opinion. I made this recipe last year for a Women’s Christmas Event and y’all, I literally tripled the recipe and it was gone in 30 minutes! No joke! So needless to say, everyone will love it!

With the holidays just around the corner and lots of fun parties to attend I thought I’d give you a recipe you can be proud of so let’s say cheers, clink our glasses, and get started!

Why You’ll Love This Christmas Sangria Recipe

  • Easy. One of the best things about sangrias is how easy they are to make. Just add everything to a pitcher, stir and chill.
  • Flavorful. All of the fresh fruit in this sangria adds tons of flavor! When combined with red wine, brandy and Grand Marnier the end result is totally delicious.
  • Festive. This simple co*cktail is ultra festive thanks to all the colors.
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What is Sangria?

Sangria is an alcoholic wine drink that is originally from Spain. It is traditionally made with red wine, chopped up fruits, fresh citrus and brandy or sometimes orange juice. Some versions are made with sparkling water, ginger ale and/or sweeteners.

What You’ll Need for Christmas Sangria

Here’s a quick overview of the ingredients you’ll need to make this holiday sangria. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for specific amounts.

  • Red Wine: Use a dry red wine, like a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Tempranillo. You don’t need to splurge because this wine will be infused with other flavors.
  • Brandy: This is the most common liquor added to Sangria.
  • Grand Marnier: I like to add grand marnier, it’s a combination of brandy and triple sec which gives it an orange flavor. Perfect for sangria.
  • Agave: Adds a little bit of sweetness to the sangria, can be omitted if you like.
  • Fresh Chopped Fruit: Typically you will see oranges and limes in sangria, in this recipe I used oranges, limes, fresh pear and pomegranate seeds for a holiday twist.
  • Cinnamon Sticks: What’s a holiday sangria without a little cinnamon, these cinnamon sticks will give the sangria a spiced tummy warming flavor that everyone will love.
  • Ginger Ale or Sparkling Water: A little bit of effervescence never hurt any one. The addition of ginger ale or sparkling water will give your sangria that edge on all the rest to make it stand out! Make sure you add this right before serving, not overnight!

The Best Red Wine for Sangria

Cabernet Sauvignon is the bigger better wine to use with Sangria. It has notes of black currant, blackberry, and sometimes cocoa or coffee. If you light a lighter more fruit-forward sangria I’d use Pinot Noir. Or if you really want to go for it and change it up you could use Rosé or a Sauvignon Blanc.

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How to Make Christmas Sangria

This easy holiday sangria comes together in a few simple steps. Here’s how to make it:

  • Combine fruit, agave, liquor, and spices. To a large pitcher add agave nectar, Grand Marnier, Brandy, orange slices, lime slices, pear slices, pomegranate seeds and cinnamon sticks.
  • Add wine. Next, pour one bottle of red wine into the pitcher. Stir to combine.
  • Chill. Cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for 1-2 hours. (the longer it sits the better it will taste) I highly recommend overnight for maximum flavor.
  • Add some fizz. Right before you are about to serve sangria, top it with ginger ale and give a quick stir.
  • Pour over ice or serve chilled. Garnish with fresh limes and oranges.
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How Long Should I Let the Fruit Soak?

Honestly, the longer the better. I’d say the least amount of time would be 1 to 2 hours. However, for a sangria recipe with maximum flavor, I’d highly recommend soaking your fruit for 8 to 10 hours or overnight!

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All the flavors get nice and cozy together when this Holiday Sangria sits overnight. You can taste all the flavors – the hint of cinnamon, the citrus, and sweetness from the pear. They truly become one! Topping it with the bubbles from ginger ale is the cherry on top!

I can’t wait to see what you guys think of this one. Honestly, it’s my best co*cktail yet! Hope you enjoy! Bon Appetite my friends, or should I say Cheers!

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More Sangria Recipes to Try

  • Peach Sangria
  • Holiday Cranberry Sangria Recipe
  • Peach Moscato Sangria

More Holiday co*cktail Recipes

  • Easy White Christmas Margarita Pitcher Recipe
  • Harvest Apple Bourbon co*cktail in a Pitcher
  • Festive Holiday Pomegranate Gin co*cktail

Print

The Ultimate Holiday Sangria | Best Red Sangria Recipe Ever (8)

Christmas Holiday Sangria

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.9 from 8 reviews

  • Author: Krista
  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 2 hours
  • Total Time: 2 hours 5 mins
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
  • Category: Drinks
  • Method: Fridge
  • Cuisine: Spanish
Print Recipe

Description

The Ultimate Holiday Sangria is filled with citrus, pomegranate, pear and cinnamon for one irresistible co*cktail! Find out my secret method to making the BEST sangria.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 2 tablespoons agave nectar
  • 1/4 cup grand marnier
  • 1/4 cup brandy
  • 1 orange, halved and then sliced
  • 1 lime, sliced
  • 1 pear, sliced
  • 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
  • 2 sticks of cinnamon
  • 1 bottle of dry red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon)
  • 3/4 cup ginger ale

Instructions

  1. To a large pitcher add agave nectar, grand marnier, brandy, orange, lime, pear, pomegranate seeds, cinnamon sticks. Stir to combine.
  2. Pour in the entire bottle of red wine.
  3. Cover and place in refrigerator for 1-2 hours. (the longer it sits the better it will taste)
  4. Right before you are about to serve add the ginger ale to the sangria mixture.
  5. Pour over ice or serve chilled.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 6 oz
  • Calories: 278
  • Sugar: 22 g
  • Sodium: 13 mg
  • Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 33 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 1 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

Filed Under:

  • Christmas
  • co*cktails
  • Drinks
  • Holidays
  • New Years
  • Thanksgiving
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The Ultimate Holiday Sangria | Best Red Sangria Recipe Ever (2024)

FAQs

What brandy is best for sangria? ›

Brandy makes sangria taste and smell more aromatic and you don't need to use the most expensive bottle (not even close). We used St. Remy VSOP, which was less than $15 and while I would not sip on it by a fire or anything, we were very happy with the results when we added it to the sangria.

What is the best wine for sangria? ›

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?

What are the basic ingredients for sangria? ›

Step 1In a large pitcher, mix wine, orange juice, brandy, and granulated sugar. Stir in oranges, apples, blueberries, strawberries, and cinnamon. Step 2Refrigerate until ready to serve, at least 2 hours or preferably overnight.

Can you use old red wine for sangria? ›

For the bottles that are only slightly less delicious than they were when first opened, you can give the wine new life in sangria or mulled wine. Using the wine as a vehicle for strong ingredients such as fruit or spices is a great way to still enjoy that bottle.

Is sangria stronger than wine? ›

If you're new to the sangria scene, you might wonder, "Is sangria stronger than wine?" Not necessarily. While sangria contains wine and often brandy, the addition of fruit and optional soda or sparkling wine dilutes the alcohol, making it a relatively mild, fruity beverage.

What is the highest alcohol content sangria? ›

Bottles produced in the U.S. usually have between 5% and 15%. Sangria made with red wine is usually stronger than white wine punches.

Should you use cheap wine for sangria? ›

No need to use a $30 bottle for sangria, but you should probably skip that undrinkable plonk in a jug. (Wine in a can, however: That's another story). As long as the wine is inexpensive, fruity and tastes good on its own, it'll work well in sangria.

What is the best white wine to make 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!

Should you make sangria the night before? ›

Yes, sangria is often prepared in advance to allow the flavors to meld together. It is recommended to let the sangria sit in the refrigerator for at least a few hours or overnight to allow the fruits and other ingredients to infuse into the wine. This enhances the overall flavor and makes it more intensely fruity!

What is traditional sangria made of? ›

Spanish Sangria Ingredients:

If you ask bartenders here in Spain how to make sangria, they will be the first to tell you that — technically — there is no standard way to make sangria. It's really just a wine punch made with seasonal fruit, sweetener, a good splash of brandy, and possibly something fizzy added in.

What do you add to bottled sangria? ›

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.

What percent alcohol is real sangria? ›

7.5 % Alcohol

Red Spanish Wine base – Ruby Red Color Sweet and fruit forward with citrus notes Full and round flavor, sweet.

How long does homemade sangria last? ›

Generally, you can expect your sangria to remain enjoyable for about 3 to 5 days when stored properly. During this time, the flavors meld together, creating a harmonious blend that's a delight to sip on. However, it's crucial to keep an eye (or rather, a nose and palate) out for any signs of spoilage.

Is red sangria good for you? ›

Sangria contains all the properties and benefits of red wine. Thanks to its powerful antioxidants, polyphenols and flavonoids protect cells from aging. And also has resveratrol is a substance having the grapes that protects against inflammatory processes in the body.

What type of alcohol is sangria? ›

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.

What are the 4 types of brandy? ›

Seven types of Brandy
  • Cognac. The most famous brandy in the world. ...
  • Armagnac. France's other great brandy. ...
  • Calvados. Calvados is made from apples and pears, not grapes, grown in the Calvados region in Normandy in the north east corner of France.
  • Brandy de Jerez. ...
  • Metaxa. ...
  • Pisco. ...
  • Grappa.

Is Cognac the same as brandy? ›

Examples of brandy include pisco, armagnac or Obstler (a brandy produced in Austria and Switzerland). Cognac, however, is always made with grapes and has a very specific distillation and blending process located in a small, protected area in the southwest of France. considered as brandy, but not all brandy is cognac.”

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