Introduction
If you’re looking for a refreshing, easy-to-make drink that can liven up any gathering, look no further than sangria. This classic Spanish drink is a perfect blend of wine, fruit, and spirits, and can be customized to suit any taste. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about making the perfect sangria, from basic recipes to creative twists.
5 Easy Steps to Make the Perfect Sangria
Before we dive into the recipes, let’s go over the basics of making sangria:
Step 1: Choose your wine
The type of wine you choose will affect the taste of your sangria, so choose one that you enjoy drinking. Red wine is traditional, but white or rosé can be used for a lighter flavor. Choose a dry wine if you plan to add a lot of sweet fruit, or a sweet wine if you plan to use less sweetener.
Step 2: Add your fruits and sweetener
Sliced fruit is the most common fruit used in sangria, but you can also use berries, citrus, or tropical fruits. Sweeten your sangria with sugar, honey, or a sweet liqueur like triple sec or brandy.
Step 3: Add your spirits
Add a shot or two of spirits like brandy, rum, or vodka to add depth to your sangria. If you prefer a more subtle alcohol taste, skip this step.
Step 4: Top off with juice or soda
Top off your sangria with your favorite sparkling water or juice. This will help mellow out the wine taste and make the sangria more refreshing. You can also add a splash of soda for fizz.
Step 5: Chill and let the flavors meld together
Chill your sangria in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld together. The longer the sangria sits, the more flavorful it will be.
Refreshing Sangria Recipes for Summer Entertaining
Now that you know the basics, let’s explore some classic and creative sangria recipes:
Classic red wine sangria recipe
- 1 bottle of red wine
- 1/4 cup of brandy
- 1/4 cup of triple sec
- 1 sliced orange
- 1 sliced lemon
- 1 sliced lime
- 1/4 cup of sugar
- 1 cup of orange juice
- Soda water or lemon-lime soda for topping off
In a large pitcher, combine the wine, brandy, triple sec, sliced fruit, sugar, and orange juice. Mix well and refrigerate for at least an hour. Before serving, top off the pitcher with soda water or lemon-lime soda. Serve over ice.
White wine peach sangria recipe
- 1 bottle of white wine
- 1/2 cup of peach schnapps
- 1 sliced peach
- 1/4 cup of sugar
- 1 cup of peach nectar
- Soda water or lemon-lime soda for topping off
Mix the wine, peach schnapps, sliced peach, sugar, and peach nectar in a large pitcher. Chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Top off with soda water or lemon-lime soda before serving. Serve over ice.
Rosé sangria recipe with strawberries and basil
- 1 bottle of rosé wine
- 1/4 cup of vodka
- 1/4 cup of sugar
- 1/2 cup of sliced strawberries
- 1/2 cup of fresh basil leaves
- 1 cup of sparkling water
Combine the rosé, vodka, sugar, sliced strawberries, and basil leaves in a large pitcher. Chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Before serving, top off with sparkling water. Serve over ice.
The History of Sangria and How to Make it at Home
Sangria has been around in some form since the Middle Ages, when water and wine were often too impure to drink. By the 18th century, the drink had evolved to include fruit, sugar, and brandy. Today, sangria is a popular drink around the world, and it’s easy to make at home. Here is a simple recipe for beginners:
Simple sangria recipe for beginners
- 1 bottle of red wine
- 1/4 cup of brandy
- 1 sliced orange
- 1 sliced lemon
- 1/4 cup of sugar
- 1 cup of orange juice
Mix all the ingredients in a large pitcher and chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Serve over ice.
A Beginner’s Guide to Making Sangria: Tips and Tricks
If you’re new to making sangria, here are some tips and tricks to help you get started:
Best types of wine, fruits, and spirits to use
As we mentioned earlier, the type of wine you choose will affect the overall flavor of your sangria. Red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon or Tempranillo are commonly used, but you can also use white wines like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio for a lighter taste. Fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes are classic additions, but you can also use berries, mangoes, or pineapples. When it comes to spirits, brandy, rum, and triple sec are popular options, but you can also use flavored vodka or liqueurs.
Ratio of fruits to wine
A good rule of thumb is to use about one cup of fruit per bottle of wine. You can use more or less depending on your taste preferences.
How long to let sangria sit before serving
The longer sangria sits, the more flavorful it will be. We recommend chilling it in the refrigerator for at least an hour, but you can also let it sit overnight for the best results.
Spice Up Your Sangria with These Unique Ingredient Combinations
If you’re feeling adventurous, try these unique sangria recipes:
Cucumber and mint sangria recipe
- 1 bottle of white wine
- 1/2 cup of cucumber vodka
- 1 sliced cucumber
- 1/2 cup of fresh mint leaves
- 1/4 cup of sugar
- 1 cup of soda water
Mix the wine, cucumber vodka, sliced cucumber, mint leaves, and sugar in a large pitcher. Chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Before serving, top off with soda water. Serve over ice.
Pineapple and coconut sangria recipe
- 1 bottle of rosé wine
- 1/4 cup of coconut rum
- 1/2 cup of sliced pineapple
- 1/4 cup of sugar
- 1 cup of pineapple juice
- Sparkling water or lemon-lime soda for topping off
Mix the wine, coconut rum, sliced pineapple, sugar, and pineapple juice in a large pitcher. Chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Before serving, top off with sparkling water or lemon-lime soda. Serve over ice.
Jalapeno and mango sangria recipe
- 1 bottle of white wine
- 1/2 cup of mango vodka
- 1/2 sliced jalapeno
- 1/2 cup of sliced mango
- 1/4 cup of sugar
- 1 cup of sparkling water
Mix the wine, mango vodka, sliced jalapeno, sliced mango, and sugar in a large pitcher. Chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Before serving, top off with sparkling water. Serve over ice.
Sangria with a Twist: Non-Traditional Variations to Try
If you’re looking for something different, try these non-traditional sangria recipes:
Mulled cider and red wine sangria recipe
- 1 bottle of red wine
- 1/2 cup of apple cider
- 1/2 cup of brandy
- 1/4 cup of sugar
- 1 sliced apple
- 2 cinnamon sticks
In a large pot, mix the wine, apple cider, brandy, sugar, sliced apple, and cinnamon sticks. Bring to a simmer over low heat and cook for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes. Pour into a pitcher and chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
Sparkling sangria recipe with elderflower liqueur
- 1 bottle of sparkling wine
- 1/4 cup of elderflower liqueur
- 1 sliced peach
- 1/4 cup of sugar
- 1 cup of sparkling water
Mix the sparkling wine, elderflower liqueur, sliced peach, and sugar in a large pitcher. Chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Before serving, top off with sparkling water. Serve over ice.
Bourbon and peach sweet tea sangria recipe
- 1 bottle of sweet tea
- 1/4 cup of bourbon
- 1 sliced peach
- 1/4 cup of sugar
- 1 cup of orange juice
- Lemon-lime soda for topping off
Mix the sweet tea, bourbon, sliced peach, sugar, and orange juice in a large pitcher. Chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Before serving, top off with lemon-lime soda. Serve over ice.
Conclusion
Sangria is a versatile and easy-to-make drink that can be customized to suit any taste. We hope this article has given you some inspiration for creating your own perfect sangria. Whether you prefer a classic recipe or something a little more adventurous, there’s a sangria recipe out there for everyone.
