Warm spices and winter fruit make this Spiced Winter Sangria recipe a fun twist on your classic Spanish red sangria.
A Winter Sangria
Many cultures serve warm, spiced wine drinks during the winter months, like the Glogg in Sweden and Gluhwhein in Germany.
And, while we typically think of Spanish Red Sangria as a chilled and (possibly) bubbly summer drink, there’s no law saying you can’t serve this wine co*cktail in the winter too.
In fact, nowadays sangria is the general term for a wine-based co*cktail. So it almost invites a little creativity.
How To Choose Wine For Sangria
When it comes to choosing wine for sangria, you can really start with any red wine you like. Don’t make it too expensive of a bottle, you’re going to be doctoring it up anyway!
But, don’t make it a cheap, unpalatable bottle either.
You still have to drink it, after all.
We tend to prefer a lightly fruity wine as the base of our sangria.
Typically for sangria we would look for a young, un-aged wine.
Spanish wines like Tempranillo and Grenache are very good choices. Red Zinfandel and Shiraz are also good options. Or, look for a red blend that is on the medium sweet end with lots of fruit flavor.
Our Spiced Sangria Recipe
For our Spiced Winter Sangria recipe, we first create a simple syrup that is infused with warm winter spices, like cinnamon, cloves, and anise. This syrup gives a nice warm, spiced undertone to the co*cktail.
To the wine, we add some fresh orange juice to brighten up the flavors and a bit of brandy to kick things up a notch.
For fruit, we like to make use of fall and winter fruits by using a mixture of oranges, pears, and apples.
How To Serve Sangria
Traditional sangria is served chilled, sometimes topped up with a bit of club soda to give it a bubbly freshness.
In the winter, we don’t find ourselves wanting chilled, bubbly beverages as much, so we like to serve this winter sangria at room temperature.
Grab a glass and don’t be afraid to enjoy sangria year-round!
Other winter wine beverages
This sangria is a wonderful way to bring the often summer drink into your winter festivities.
If you’re a fan of warmer wine drinks in the winter, you will want to take a look at our Swedish Glogg recipe for a spiked red wine punch.
Our German mulled wine is also a wonderful and warming winter beverage with lots of warm spices and citrus flavors.
Enjoy the flavors of the winter months!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Spiced Winter Sangria
This festive deep-red winter sangria has a fruity and sweet flavor with rich cinnamon and clove undertones. Warm spices and winter fruit make this Spiced Winter Sangria recipe a fun twist on your classic Spanish red sangria.
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Cook Time5 minutes mins
Total Time20 minutes mins
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Spanish
Servings: 4 - 5 people
Author: Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere
Ingredients
For The Spiced Syrup
- 1/3 c water
- 1/3 c sugar
- 1 cinnamon sticks
- 4 whole black peppercorns
- 2 whole cloves
- 1 whole star anise (optional)
Putting It Together
- 1 (750mL) bottle light bodied red wine (Shiraz, Red Zinfandel, Temperanillo, or Grenache are all nice!)
- 3 small oranges
- 1/4 c brandy
- 1 sweet apple, quartered, cored and sliced
- 1 ripe bosc pear, quartered, cored, and sliced
Instructions
For The Spiced Syrup
In a small saucepan, mix the sugar, water, and whole spices.Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 3 min.
Let the syrup steep and cool to room temperature, 10 min.
Strain the syrup into a small bowl, reserving the cinnamon stick (the other spices can be discarded).
Putting It All Together
Pour the wine into a large pitcher.
Juice two oranges (you should have about ½ c of orange juice). Add the juice to the wine along with the brandy and the spiced syrup.
Halve and slice the other orange and add it to the pitcher along with the other fruit slices. Add the cinnamon stick that you reserved from making the syrup.
Cover the pitcher and refrigerate the sangria for 2 hours or overnight.
Remove the pitcher from the refrigerator 1-2 hours before serving, to let the sangria come to room temperature.
Served garnished with additional fruit slices, if desired.
Notes
This recipe from 2012 was updated in November 2017. We made the spiced sangria even tastier!
This is one of the recipes from the early days of Curious Cuisiniere. We’ve updated our pictures since we first made it, but we’ve left some originals here, in case you’ve found us in the past and are looking for that old, familiar image.
If you liked this recipe, here are some similar dishes you may enjoy!
- Spanish Red Sangria
- Glögg (Swedish Mulled Wine)
- Glühwein (German Mulled Wine)
- Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned
- Traditional Frothed Wassail Recipe
- Coquito (Puerto Rican Eggnog)
- Mexican Atole (Warm Cornmeal Drink)
- Cooked Eggnog (With or Without Alcohol)
Sarah - Curious Cuisiniere
Sarah is one of Curious Cuisiniere’s founding duo. Her love for cultural cuisines was instilled early by her French Canadian Grandmother. Her experience in the kitchen and in recipe development comes from years working in professional kitchens. She has traveled extensively and enjoys bringing the flavors of her travels back to create easy-to-make recipes.
www.curiouscuisiniere.com/about/
FAQs
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.
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.
How far in advance should you make sangria? ›
Sangria Recipe Tips
I let mine chill for at least 8 hours before serving, or overnight for the best flavor. Taste and adjust. Whenever you're making a co*cktail at home, be sure to taste and adjust it to your liking. If you prefer a sweeter sangria, add an extra splash of orange juice or a little maple syrup.
What brandy is best for sangria? ›
"When choosing a brandy, it is best to go toward a Spanish one made with Spanish grapes," said Trujillo. "I find Carlos I Solera Gran Reserva Brandy to be perfect for sangria." This brandy was aged in American oak casks and has notes of vanilla and caramel.
How to spice up a bottle of sangria? ›
Any juicy fruits (such as citrus, berries, grapes, pineapple, mango, kiwi, etc.) would be delicious. Add fresh ginger: If you would like to give your sangria a bit of a kick, muddle in a few slices of fresh ginger.
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.
How much alcohol is usually in sangria? ›
EU law says bottles from Spain are limited by law to less than 12% alcohol by volume (ABV). 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 make sangria the night before or the day of? ›
Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight. The sangria gets softer, sweeter, and much more delicious overnight in the fridge. When ready to serve, top off the sangria with sparkling water.
Can you leave fruit in sangria overnight? ›
Add fresh fruit ingredients and stir. If you're serving right away, let stand for 15 minutes to let ingredients meld. Ideally, refrigerate sangria for at least two hours or overnight. And, by the way, sangria can last in the refrigerator for several days.
What is the best store-bought sangria? ›
Best Ready To Drink Sangria
- Carlo Rossi Sangria. 4.4 out of 5 stars. ...
- Sol de Espana Sangria. 4.6 out of 5 stars. ...
- Franzia Fruity Red Sangria. 4.4 out of 5 stars. ...
- Mija Red Sangria. 4.2 out of 5 stars. ...
- Jose Cuervo Red Sangria. 5 out of 5 stars. ...
- Lolailo Sangria. 4.7 out of 5 stars. ...
- Carlo Rossi Sangria. 4.4 out of 5 stars. ...
- Real Sangria.
I prefer my red wine sangria with a white rum, but you can also use dark rum, brandy, or or an orange liqueur like triple sec or cointreau! Citrus: IMO, sangria isn't sangria without the citrus! This is what gives it that punchy flavor and takes away the “alcohol” flavor.
What type of rum is best for sangria? ›
This authentic sangria recipe is a terrific version of the popular wine drink. You can add any fruit that you want, but I find that apples and pears absorb all the rum. This one is not diluted with carbonated beverages. I have had much success with red Burgundy wine and white rum, though spiced rum is nice too.
What fruit is good for sangria? ›
It is recommended to add citrus, stone or tropical fruits for the perfect Sangria. If you prefer softer fruits such as berries, watermelon or melon, then add them just before serving so they don't get too soft and mushy. Don't forget to add a splash of sparkling water or soda for a little bit of extra fizz.
Why does my sangria taste bitter? ›
Tannins are naturally created during the winemaking process due to grape skins and seeds. Tannins tend to give the wine a bitter flavor. This is important because tannins do not taste good when they're cold, and sangria is typically served chilled.
How do you keep sangria cold at a party? ›
Fill with water and fruit (or flowers, but sangria & fruit are the perfect companions) – stick a bottle inside the milk jug container and freeze! When you remove from the freezer, you will have the perfect spot for a bottle of sangria chilled.
Does fruit soak up alcohol in sangria? ›
Classic Spanish sangria is made with red wine, fruit, a little sugar and brandy. Once all of the ingredients are combined, they allow the sangria to sit for a few hours, usually overnight. This allows the fruit to soak up the wine and flavor the sangria.
What fruits are most common in sangria? ›
Fruits: strawberries, apples, oranges are an ideal combination for color, texture, and flavor. You can also use other fruit such as pineapples or peaches. These should be added just before serving. Soda: for that bit of festive fizz, top off the sangria with lemon-lime soda.
What is white wine and orange juice called? ›
To make 1 mimosa co*cktail: In a champagne flute, combine 1/3 cup chilled sparkling wine and 1/3 cup chilled orange juice.
What do you serve sangria in for a party? ›
Honestly, the sangria, fresh fruit, herbs, and glassware basically double as décor. If you don't have a drink dispenser, some pitchers work great. The fruit can be set out in large mason jars or disposable clear plastic bowls. Add a bouquet of flowers to make it more inviting.
A Winter Sangria
