Sparkling Red Wine Sangria Recipe

My Sparkling Red Wine Sangria Recipe is an easy make-ahead cocktail! Perfect for serving a crowd on any occasion & you can snack on when your drink’s done!

Batch cocktails like this Sparkling Red Wine Sangria or peach sangria are always at the top of my party menu. It doesn’t matter if I’m planning a romantic dinner for two, a backyard BBQ, or having friends over to watch the game, I love great sangria recipes! 

SPARKLING RED WINE SANGRIA
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What is Sangria?

If you’re not familiar with sangria, we are going to change all of that today. By the time we’re done, you’ll love sangria as much as I do!

Sangria is an alcoholic punch that originated in Spain in the 18th century. Sangria is believed to come from sangre meaning blood due to the red color of the drink. While traditionally red, sangria blanca (white wine sangria) has become popular as well.

I really love serving this sparkling red wine sangria recipe on Mexican food night. It pairs wonderfully with empanadas, pico de gallo and chips, carne asada tacos, and chicken fajitas.

What are the ingredients of sangria?

• Red wine
• Fruit
• Brandy
• Orange liqueur (triple sec, Gran Marnier, Cointreau, etc.)
• Fruit juice

For this particular sangria, I love using Pink Lady apples and Cara Cara oranges, but any sweet apple (Gala, Fuji, etc.) and navel oranges would work fine too. The apples also end up turning different shades of pink, depending on how long you let the fruit soak.

Depending on the wine you use for your sangria there are lots of fruit options. Everything from lemons and limes to pomegranate and cherries. There isn’t just one right answer to the question of sangria fruit. The wine label is a great place to get ideas since it usually calls out the flavors you’ll find in the wine. Use the same fruits or fruits that pair well. The same goes for your juice and spirit choices.

What red wine is good for sangria?

There are lots of options when it comes to sangria wine. A red blend is my wine of choice for this recipe, but you could also use a merlot, cabernet, or pinot noir.

How to Make Sangria

1. Fill a pitcher with chopped fruit, wine, liqueur, and apple juice. Stir.
2. Chill in the fridge for 6 to 8 hours.
3. Fill a wine glass with ice and fruit from the sangria. Pour sangria into the glass leaving a room for bubbles. Fill glass with prosecco. Serve.

How long does sangria need to sit?

One of the hardest parts of this recipe is being patient. This isn’t a make-it-and-drink-it cocktail. Sangria needs a minimum 6-8 hours of chill time in the fridge to let all the flavors come together. The sangria gets into the fruit and the fruit juices soak into the wine. It’s beautiful.

Now that being said, if you’re REALLY in a pinch, you can get away with 2 hours in the fridge if you have to but trust me when I say this easy sangria recipe gets better the longer it sits.

At my house, this is hands down the best sangria recipe. It’s classic, easy to make, and it’s always a favorite with our friends and family.

Want more easy pitcher cocktail recipes?

• White Peach Sangria
• Cranberry Pineapple Punch
• Cran-Apple Sangria
• Strawberry & Lime Moscato Punch
• Triple Berry Wine Slush
• More drink recipes…

Tools used to make this Sparkling Red Wine Sangria recipe

Pitcher: I love pitcher drinks and this pitcher always gets oohs and ahhs from my friends and readers.

Measuring Cup: I have a set of these measuring cups as long as I can remember. They come in 3 different sizes for all your cooking needs!

Wine Glasses: Keep a set of stemmed wine glasses on hand to feel posh drinking your favorite glass of vino, sangrias, or punches!

*This post updated on 06/08/2019.

 

If you’re looking for other tasty cocktails, be sure to check out these recipes:

Blueberry Mint Cocktail

Citrus Beer Sangria