How do you make sangria? Combine a bottle of dry, fruity wine with chopped fruit and a little fruit juice in a pitcher. Chill it for at least two hours and up to a day, so the flavors blend. Pour it over ice and top each glass with sparkling water or a splash of sparkling wine. Choose a wine with bright fruit and no heavy oak: a smooth red, or a crisp white such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio. None of our recipes adds a spirit.
Sangria began as a wine punch in Spain and Portugal. Below are four ONEHOPE Wine versions, starting with a deep red for winter evenings.
What wine is good for sangria?
Fruit and juice add sweetness, so start with a dry wine that has bright fruit and little or no oak. Heavy oak can taste woody next to fresh fruit. Cold also makes firm tannins feel firmer, so pick a red with smooth tannins.
| Style | ONEHOPE bottle | Why it works in sangria |
|---|---|---|
| Smooth, rich red | 2023 Vintner Cabernet Sauvignon | Dark berries and a touch of vanilla stand up to tart pomegranate and orange |
| Red blend | 2022 Vintner Red Blend | Cherry, raspberry and cocoa notes meet berries and citrus |
| Lighter red | 2021 Hospitality Pinot Noir | Strawberry, Bing cherry and a touch of cinnamon suit strawberries and warm spice |
| Crisp white | 2023 Vintner Sauvignon Blanc | Lime, lemon and guava lift peaches, apples and berries |
| Light white | 2023 Vintner Pinot Grigio | Ripe stone fruit and high acidity keep apricot or peach sangria fresh |
| Sweeter sparkling | Sparkling Moscato | White peach, mandarin and a delicate sweetness suit summer berries |
| Dry sparkling, to top | Vintner Sparkling Brut | Crisp green apple and citrus add lift to the top of each glass |
Choose a wine you enjoy on its own. The fruit builds on its flavor rather than hiding it.
How do you make winter pomegranate sangria?
Pomegranate, orange and blackberries give this red sangria a deep ruby color for holiday tables and cold evenings. The Vintner Cabernet Sauvignon brings dark berries, toffee and a hint of vanilla. It is rich enough to hold its own against the tart juice.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle 2023 Vintner Cabernet Sauvignon
- 1 cup pomegranate juice
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1 orange, thinly sliced
- 1 cup blackberries
- 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
- 1 to 2 tablespoons simple syrup (optional)
- Chilled sparkling water, to top
Instructions
- Add the orange slices, blackberries and pomegranate seeds to a large pitcher.
- Pour in the wine, pomegranate juice and orange juice. Stir, taste, and add simple syrup if you like it sweeter.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours.
- Pour over ice, spoon some fruit into each glass, and top with a splash of sparkling water.
Want a softer red? The Vintner Red Blend, with cherry, raspberry and cocoa, works with the same fruit. For a lighter version, use the Hospitality Pinot Noir with sliced strawberries and a cinnamon stick in place of the blackberries. For a warm drink instead, try our mulled wine for colder nights.
How do you make spiced white sangria?
Apple, orange, honey and mulling spices turn a crisp white into a harvest sangria for fall and winter. The citrus in the Vintner Sauvignon Blanc keeps the warm spice bright.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle 2023 Vintner Sauvignon Blanc
- 1 apple, cored and sliced into thin rounds
- 1 orange, sliced into thin rounds
- 1 tablespoon mulling spices
- 2 cinnamon sticks, plus more to garnish
- 2 tablespoons honey
- For the rim: 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and an orange wedge
Instructions
- Stir the honey into a splash of the wine until it dissolves.
- Pour it into a pitcher with the rest of the wine, the apple, orange, mulling spices and cinnamon sticks.
- Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight, then strain out the spices and fruit.
- Mix the sugar and cinnamon on a small plate. Run the orange wedge around each rim, then dip the rim in the cinnamon sugar.
- Fill the glasses with ice, add a fresh slice of apple and orange, pour, and finish with a cinnamon stick.
Straining after the steep keeps the mulling spices from taking over the wine.
How do you make sparkling berry sangria?
The Sparkling Moscato brings citrus blossom, juicy white peach and tangy mandarin, with a delicate sweetness. Berries and apple juice lean into that fruit. A pour of Vintner Sparkling Brut on top adds crisp, lively bubbles.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle Sparkling Moscato, chilled
- 2 cups sliced strawberries
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 cup raspberries
- 1 cup apple juice
- Vintner Sparkling Brut, chilled, to top
Instructions
- Combine the Moscato, berries and apple juice in a pitcher. Stir gently.
- Refrigerate for about 1 hour, so the sangria stays fizzy.
- Fill each glass about halfway with ice and sangria, and spoon in some berries.
- Just before serving, top each glass with the Vintner Sparkling Brut, poured slowly down the side.
The Vintner Sparkling Brut brings pineapple, citrus and green apple, with a creamy finish that rounds out the berries. To compare the two styles, see our guide to reading a sparkling wine label.
What is a good white sangria for warm days?
When peaches are ripe, this white peach sangria is bright, tangy and full of fruit. It uses the Vintner Sauvignon Blanc again, with lime to echo the citrus in the wine.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle 2023 Vintner Sauvignon Blanc
- 2 ripe peaches, cut into wedges
- 1 cup raspberries
- 1 apple, cored and sliced
- 1/2 lime and 1/2 orange, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- Vintner Sparkling Brut, to top (optional)
Instructions
- Combine everything except the sparkling wine in a pitcher and cover it.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours.
- Pour over crushed ice and garnish with peach and raspberries. Add a splash of Vintner Sparkling Brut if you like.
For the simplest version of all, try our apricot sangria with Pinot Grigio. It needs one bottle of Pinot Grigio and two ripe apricots. The Vintner Pinot Grigio's stone fruit and citrus zest suit the apricots. On a hot day, try a frosé made with only wine and fruit.
What makes sangria taste better?
- Cut the fruit small. Smaller pieces give up their flavor faster.
- Give it time, then strain. Two hours is the minimum. After about a day, strain out the fruit before citrus peel turns the sangria bitter.
- Add bubbles last. Top with sparkling water or sparkling wine just before you pour, so the glass stays lively.
- Taste before serving. Too tart? Add fruit juice or a little simple syrup. Too sweet? Add a squeeze of lime or a splash of sparkling water.
- Keep it cold. Serve over ice and return the pitcher to the fridge between pours. Our wine serving temperature guide covers each style.
- Store it covered. Strained sangria keeps one to two days in the fridge. Add bubbles only to the glasses you pour.
What should you serve with sangria?
Fruit-forward sangria suits salty, savory snacks. Our wine and cheese pairing guide shows how to build a board around each wine. For another fruit-forward pour, try our pear bellini with Sparkling Moscato.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best wine for sangria?
A dry, fruity wine without heavy oak that you enjoy on its own. For red, try a smooth Cabernet Sauvignon or a red blend. For white, try a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio. Sparkling Moscato makes a sweeter, bubbly version.
How long does sangria need to sit?
At least two hours in the fridge, and up to 24 hours. Spiced versions do well with four hours or overnight. Sparkling versions need only about an hour.
Can you make sangria without liquor?
Yes. Many recipes add a spirit, but none of ours does. Ripe fruit and a splash of juice bring plenty of flavor. For another drink with no spirit added, try a simple wine spritzer.
How long does sangria last in the fridge?
One to two days, covered. Strain out the fruit after the first day so it does not turn soft or bitter. Add any bubbles to each glass as you pour.
Can you make sangria with sparkling wine?
Yes. Use Sparkling Moscato as the base for a sweeter sangria, or top any glass with a dry brut just before serving. Chill a sparkling base for about an hour so it keeps its fizz.
