This fruity red sangria is loaded up with apples, oranges, and red grapes for a red sangria that is SO good! Good red sangria should be an experience – the bits of fruit should be boozy and juicy, the sangria refreshing and full of flavors.

I worked long and hard on creating the BEST red sangria recipe and I’m finally ready to share it with you!

A glass of red wine sangria full of fruit and wine. It sits on a green background with a serving tray behind it.

Table of Contents

The Story Behind the Recipe

When we moved awhile back, we left behind a favorite restaurant – a small, local, Italian eatery. We’d split a dreamy brick-oven quattro formaggi pizza – the perfect size for the two of us – and, buoyed by the fact that we were saving so much money on our simple shared dinner, we’d often splurge on a drink or two as well. My favorite? Their red sangria, a Spanish beverage. But being that we were in an Italian restaurant, their red sangria had a decidedly Italian influence (namely, orange!)

It was ruby red, earthy, fruity but not too sweet. Most memorably, it was clearly spiced with something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Cloves? Allspice? Cinnamon? Maybe. I decided to start fishing for the recipe – or at least try to score a few hints – but man. They were seriously tight-lipped about their sangria.

I played dumb with a new waiter, pointing at the menu and asking, “Hmm. This sangria looks good. What’s in it?” I got some sort of generic answer. “Red wine. And … stuff.” I asked a waitperson who knew us well, but she was loyal to the restaurant. She offered just about the same amount of info – that is, nada.

When a friend’s son began working there, I thought maybe I finally had an in. A few weeks later, he reported back with something along the lines of the fact that the owner was indeed very secretive about his sangria recipe. No info.

Whatever man!

A hand holding a glass of classic traditional red wine sangria.

Developing the Recipe for Red Sangria

For this recipe, I ventured a tiny bit from the classic formula by skipping the sugar (I like to make up for it by adding ginger beer – plenty sweet – right before drinking) and – my secret weapon and I now suspect also the restaurant owner’s – a spoonful of allspice. The allspice adds a wonderful warm, spicy, and seasonal note along with the orange and apples, making for a glorious overall sangria indeed.

When I took my first sip of this red wine sangria, I practically did a fist pump. Or maybe I actually did – no “practically” about it. This stuff was very, very close to my restaurant fave. But I’m not going to keep my recipe a secret!

Two images showing the ingredients for red wine sangria and a pitcher full of red wine sangria.

Red Wine Sangria Ingredients

The elements of red sangria are citrus (usually orange or lemon), maybe some apples, a fruity (but not too sweet) red wine, some sugar, and possibly some brandy or other liqueur. Simple, delicious.

For this red sangria recipe, we have:

  • Red wine – A fruity yet somewhat neutral, dry red wine is the best in traditional sangria. You want it to be lower in tannins (so no Cabernet Sauvignon). Other great red wines for sangria are: Tempranillo, Rioja, Pinot Noir or red blends that are on the drier side. No need to spend a lot of money, here! A $10-$20 bottle will do you just fine.
  • Orange juice – This helps your red sangria have that unmistakably juicy, fruity taste. Use fresh squeezed or bottled. Both are excellent!
  • Fruit – apples, oranges, and red grapes. The grapes are optional but SO GOOD!
  • Allspice – Whole allspices are the secret ingredient for a warm, slightly spiced traditional red sangria.
  • Brandy
  • Triple sec
  • Ginger beer – A nice, zesty ginger beer is my favorite. Ginger ale or lemon-lime soda will also work. I also like sparkling water but the result is definitely less sweet. If you like a less-sweet sangria, this is the option for you, or you can start with a sweeter wine, or even add a little simple syrup to adjust the sweetness to your liking right before serving.
A close up of a glass full of red wine sangria against a green background.

Adaptations & Variations

  • If you’d rather leave out the ginger beer, I suggest stirring a spoonful or two of sugar into your sangria, to taste.
  • Feel free to add whatever fruit you like! Lemons add a nice bright note (though they’re not really munchable). Berries, plums, pears, pineapple, and mango are all delicious!

How to Make It

It’s easy! Just add the ingredients (except the ginger beer) to a pitcher, stir, and chill for at least 4 hours.

How to Serve Red Sangria

Pull out a few pieces of fruit and add them to a glass. Remove any allspice if you prefer. Pour sangria in about 3/4 full, then top off with your carbonated beverage.

How Long Does Red Sangria Last in the Fridge?

Without the ginger beer, red sangria will last in the fridge for up to 4 days. Once you add the carbonated beverage, the bubbles will only last for so long, so add those when serving.

What to Serve with Red Sangria

More Sangria Recipes

Classic Red Sangria
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The Best Red Sangria

Prep: 4 hours 10 minutes
Author: Kare
Yield: 4 servings
Full-of-flavor red wine sangria with apples, oranges, allspice, and brandy. A splash of zesty ginger beer tops it off. Beware, this goes fast!
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Ingredients

  • 750 ml dry red wine (1 bottle)
  • 1 cup orange juice
  • 1 large or 2 small apples (cored and cut into chunks)
  • 1 medium navel orange (sliced)
  • 1 cup red grapes (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon whole allspice
  • 3/4 cup brandy
  • 1/2 cup Triple Sec
  • 2 12-ounce bottles ginger beer*

Instructions

  • To a large pitcher, add all ingredients except for the ginger beer. Seal or cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 10 hours. Scoop out a few pieces of fruit and add it to your glass, picking out the allspice if you prefer. Pour the sangria into the glass to about 3/4 full. Top off with ginger beer and stir gently to mix. And now the best part: serve and drink!

Notes

Wine notes: A fruity yet somewhat neutral, dry red wine is the best in traditional sangria. You want it to be lower in tannins (so no Cabernet Sauvignon). Other great red wines for sangria are: Tempranillo, Rioja, Pinot Noir or red blends that are on the drier side. No need to spend a lot of money, here! A $10-$20 bottle will do you just fine.
* A nice, zesty ginger beer is my favorite. Ginger ale or lemon-lime soda will also work. I also like sparkling water but the result is definitely less sweet. If you like a less-sweet sangria, this is the option for you, or you can start with a sweeter wine, or even add a little simple syrup to adjust the sweetness to your liking right before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 449kcal, Carbohydrates: 39g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 0.5g, Saturated Fat: 0.1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g, Sodium: 6mg, Potassium: 327mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 28g, Vitamin A: 254IU, Vitamin C: 52mg, Calcium: 35mg, Iron: 0.5mg

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