This Sangria recipe is a refreshing, fruity cocktail recipe that’s perfect for warm-weather gatherings, backyard barbecues, or relaxing evenings with friends. This classic Spanish drink blends wine with fresh fruit, a touch of sweetness, and a splash of something fizzy, creating a vibrant beverage that’s as beautiful as it is delicious.
The base of sangria is traditionally a bottle of red wine, typically something dry and medium-bodied like Tempranillo, Garnacha, or Merlot. The wine is combined with a variety of sliced fresh fruits – common choices include oranges, lemons, limes, apples, and berries. These fruits infuse the wine with their natural sweetness and vibrant flavors as it chills.
To balance the acidity of the wine and add a hint of sweetness, a little sugar, honey, or simple syrup is stirred in. Many recipes also include a splash of brandy, which deepens the flavor and adds a bit of warmth. For a lighter twist, you can substitute the brandy with orange liqueur like Cointreau or Grand Marnier.
Just before serving, sangria is topped off with a splash of club soda, lemon-lime soda, or sparkling water to add a touch of effervescence. This final step brightens the drink and makes it incredibly refreshing.
Sangria recipe is endlessly customizable. Swap red wine for white to create a crisp white sangria, or use rosé for a lighter, fruitier variation. Tropical fruits like pineapple and mango, or herbs like mint and basil, can be added for a creative twist.
Serve sangria over plenty of ice in a large pitcher or punch bowl, letting the fruit float beautifully on top. It pairs wonderfully with tapas, grilled meats, seafood, or simple cheese and charcuterie boards.
Sweet, tangy, and beautifully colorful, sangria is the ultimate crowd-pleaser. It is easy to make ahead, perfect for sharing, and guaranteed to bring a festive touch to any gathering.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle red wine preferably dry
- 1/4 cup brandy or orange liqueur
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 cup orange juice freshly squeezed
- 1 orange sliced
- 1 lemon sliced
- 1 lime sliced
- 1 cup club soda optional, for fizz
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, combine the red wine, brandy, and sugar. Stir until the sugar has dissolved.
- Add the orange juice and the sliced fruits (orange, lemon, lime) to the mixture.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to let the flavors meld together.
- Before serving, add the club soda if desired for a bit of fizz.
- Serve in glasses over ice with a few pieces of fruit for garnish.
This sangria recipe is super easy and delicious! Perfect for summer parties. I made it for my friends and everyone loved it!
I’m glad it turned out well for you! Sangria is definitely a crowd pleaser. 🍹
I had a problem with the taste. Maybe too much brandy.
Mine tasted a little too boozy even after 2 hours. Next time I’ll reduce the brandy a bit or use less sugar.
Simple enough, and the citrus combo is spot on. I did add a little extra sugar because my oranges were kinda tart, but overall easy win.
The club soda tip is perfect. I added it right before pouring and it stayed fizzy longer than when I’ve rushed in the past.
Perfect for a party! Everyone loved it! Will definitely make again.
Mine turned out a bit too sour even though I used fresh orange juice. Maybe my oranges were small? Next time I’ll add a touch more sugar or use sweeter wine.
Yummy!! Perfect for hot summer days. 🍊🍋💖
This sounds amazing! Can’t wait to make it myself. Perfect for sipping by the pool! 🏖️
Best sangria I’ve ever made. Thanks for sharing! The sugar makes a big difference.
I’m not sure about this, is it really sangria without using fruit-flavored vodka? 🤷♂️
Absolutely loved this! Perfect for summer parties. Will make again for sure!
Tried this for a small get-together—so refreshing! The orange juice + citrus slices make it taste way more “bright” than the usual sangria I’ve had. I added the club soda and it was perfect.
Pretty good, but I think it needed more fruit. Maybe some berries? Just a suggestion!
I tried this but used white wine instead! Didn’t taste as good. Maybe stick to red? 🤔
I left out the sugar and it still tasted great! A little healthier too. 😅
Hmm, I think white wine is better for sangria… But this was okay.
Not gonna lie, I was skeptical about putting lemon and lime in the same batch, but it works. The balance is surprisingly nice. I served it with lots of ice and the flavors stayed strong.
This is not real sangria… where’s the fruit slices?
Actually, there are fruit slices in the recipe! Orange, lemon, and lime. You should check again.
Who needs fruit slices? I like it simple. Just give me the wine!
I used a sweet-ish red wine and honestly it still worked, but I’d probably stick to dry like the recipe says. The orange juice + citrus is a great combo.
This sangria recipe is a game changer! So refreshing and perfect for summer BBQs!
I’m not sure about the sugar though. Isn’t it sweet enough with the juice? I prefer less sweetness.
Totally agree! This sangria looks so delicious 😍. Can’t wait to try it at my next BBQ!
I think it needs more sweetness—mine tasted a bit tart, probably because my wine wasn’t as sweet as expected. Still good though, just adjust the sugar to taste.
Totally—dry red wine can make sangria taste way more tart. I usually add a splash more sugar or even a little honey syrup and it’s perfect.
This was alright but a bit too sweet for my taste. I think I prefer a more traditional recipe.
Way too much sugar! I thought it would be sweeter with the orange juice and all. Next time I’ll skip the sugar.
I actually love the sweetness! But if you think it’s too much, skipping the sugar sounds smart. Everyone has their taste, right?
Sangria is my favorite drink! This recipe is a winner, I added strawberries too and it was so good.
Tried it exactly as written and it was good, not amazing. Maybe my wine was too sweet? Still, the smell while it chills is amazing.
I used white wine instead. It’s delish! Highly recommend trying. 🌟
White wine, huh? That’s a different take! 😄 Might have to give it a shot if I ever run out of red.
I used white wine instead of red and it was still pretty good. Just a lil different.
Sounds fancy, but can I just use any wine? Doesn’t have to be dry, right?
Sangria in Spain is different! You should use more fruits.
Honestly easy and tastes fancy. I like that it doesn’t call for a bunch of complicated stuff—just wine, citrus, and time.
Totally agree—this sounds way less fussy than the fancy restaurant versions. Two hours is perfect too. 🍊🍋
Not gonna lie, “just wine, citrus, and time” is my kind of recipe 😅. I did make something similar before and used sprite instead of club soda—still kinda worked. Either way, I’m trying this.
I tried something similar once and the sugar never fully dissolved—so I appreciate the “stir until dissolved” step. Still, I would measure the sugar better.
I dunno about putting sugar in it, feels like it defeats the purpose. But my friends loved it.
Easy to make! Just mix and chill, can’t go wrong. 👏
This is super refreshing—especially after chilling it long enough. The orange juice makes it taste way less “boozy.” I used triple sec instead of the liqueur and it was still great.
I forgot to chill it for long enough and it tasted kinda harsh. Lesson learned: wait the full 2 hours (or longer).
Ugh, that makes total sense—sangria really does need that chill time for the harsh edge to mellow out. Next time: full 2 hours (or longer) like you said.
I didn’t have any soda so I skipped it. Still tasted great!
“Sangria” but no chopped apples or berries? Kinda boring, sorry. Still, I guess it’s a lighter style.
This sangria is the best! So refreshing on a hot day.
I made it exactly as written and… the sugar dissolved fine, but it still tasted kinda flat. Adding club soda helped a little, yet I feel like it needs more orange liqueur.
Not bad. Could be better though—mine got watery because my orange was super juicy. Maybe cut the fruit smaller? Idk.
Watery is the worst lol. I’d try not adding extra orange juice at all—just the slices. Also maybe chill it longer so it tastes stronger?
Totally agree—juicier oranges can definitely water it down. I’ve had better luck using a bit less orange juice or slicing the fruit a little smaller so it infuses faster (then you can chill and serve sooner).