I love a good glass of sangria — it’s one of those easy cocktails that are perfect both for lazy brunches and cozy dinner parties alike. It feels fancy, festive, fruity and fun; and is ideal for any sort of celebration. Also, it’s probably the simplest big-batch cocktail you can make when you’re hosting guests; not to mention a crowd-pleaser. Though traditionally one might think sangria is a summer cocktail, the red wine version when made with seasonally appropriate fruits, is a delicious drink for cooler days too.
The best sangria I’ve had was undoubtedly in Spain last year — every small wine cafe, restaurant, or bar served up pitchers of house sangria, and all of them were more delicious than the other. Of course, I had to get their recipe. What surprised me about this traditional Spanish sangria recipe was how simple it was. I’ve seen so many recipes that contain liqueurs, and brandy, and make it more complicated than it needs to be. Not this one though.
This red wine sangria recipe is the simplest you’ll ever make. It requires only a few basic things, and can even make a bottle of average red wine taste delicious! All you really need to do is chop up some fruit and let it hang out in a pitcher of wine. When serving, top up with soda and ice — and that’s it! Really, it is that simple.
A few red wine sangria notes:
— Choose an inexpensive red wine, reserve the fancy top-shelf stuff for when you’re drinking plain wine. That being said, don’t skimp and get something out of a box or “wine product.” After all, there’s only so much of the taste you can mask!
— Use seasonally appropriate fresh fruit, but don’t go overboard — 2-3 fruits are more than enough! I like oranges and apples in the winter, or even strawberries. Pomegranate pearls as a garnish adds a festive touch. Try peaches in the summer.
— Don’t chop the fruits too small. This might be a personal preference, but I believe the fruits in the sangria are just to add fruity flavour and not for actually eating. Chopping them too small means you get a mouthful of fruit in every sip.
— If you make this recipe, you don’t need any additional sweeteners. The sodas are already sweet enough, which means you can skip making simple syrup.
Make this for your next party, and might we suggest also making some marinated olives with cheese + homemade crackers for the ultimate pairing that’ll transport you right to Barcelona?
- ½ green apple, thinly sliced
- ½ orange, thinly sliced
- 1 bottle red wine
- 1 cup orange soda
- 1 cup lemon/lime soda
- Ice, to serve
- Slice the green apple and orange into thin semi-circles. Add the fruit to a pitcher, and pour the wine on top.
- Seal the pitcher using plastic wrap (or a lid) and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2-4 hours, or more. Before serving, top with orange soda, lemon-lime soda, and ice. Taste and add more soda if you would like it sweeter.
- To serve, pour into glasses, including a few slices of the fruit from the pitcher as garnish.
