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!
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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.
What to add to ready made sangria? ›
Pour the fizzy Sangria over ice then add all kinds of fresh fruit add-ins. My favorites are sliced strawberries, blueberries, and frozen grapes!
How long will sangria last in the fridge? ›
Sangria will last for about three to five days in the refrigerator if stored in an airtight container. It will only last for a day or two if stored in the pitcher covered with storage wrap, so we recommend moving it to an airtight container if you don't plan on drinking it all within two days.
What is the best red 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. Why Garnacha and Pinot Noir?
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 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.
How to improve a bottle of sangria? ›
If you prefer a sweeter sangria, use a sweet wine like Riesling or Moscato you could also add simple syrup and/or add some sweetened soda (I like Sprite here) to the mix. Prefer a lighter co*cktail? Use just ¼ cup of vodka and add more orange juice, sparkling water/club soda or add in ginger ale for a little extra fizz.
Is it better to make sangria the night before? ›
Don't skimp on the chilling time.
By chilling the sangria, you give the fresh fruits a chance to infuse the wine with sweet, fresh flavor. If you cut this time short, your sangria won't taste as fruity or as balanced. I let mine chill for at least 8 hours before serving, or overnight for the best flavor.
How do you make boxed sangria taste better? ›
Throw in some fruit
Add any fruit from berries to apples to pineapple, and you've got homemade sangria.
If your pitcher of sangria has been sitting in the fridge a little too long, it can go bad. Here's how to identify bad sangria: Color changes: white wine-based sangria becomes yellowish, while red wine-based sangria tends to appear orange.
Can you leave fruit in sangria overnight? ›
Why You Should Refrigerate Red Sangria Overnight. Most sangria recipes call for the wine to rest overnight, or at the very least, for a few hours in the refrigerator. This lets the fruit infuse the wine, letting its juices get in the mix and sweeten up the drink.
Can you drink sangria straight? ›
My sangria is delicious straight up or topped off with a little bubbly water to dilute the alcohol a bit and add some fizz. I'm pretty sure it'll add some fizz to your life even without the bubbly water.
What is the best cheap wine for sangria? ›
Inexpensive Tempranillos tend to be herbier and spicier and are a good choice as well. A couple sangria-worthy options from outside Spain: Malbec or Bonarda from Argentina, which are often great values.
What is the best white wine for sangria? ›
Since we are adding a lot of other sweet components to this drink we like to keep the white wine dry and high in acidity. Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo or a dry Riesling would all work great here.
Is Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio better for sangria? ›
A dry and crisp white wine e.g. Albariño/Alvarinho, Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, work best in a white Sangria. If you prefer a sweeter co*cktail, try a wine with sweeter, fruitier flavours such as a Riesling or Moscato. A Prosecco is also a great choice if you like your Sangria with a little fizz.
How to serve shop bought sangria? ›
Sangria is best enjoyed cold, so serving it over ice is important to the experience.
How long does pre made sangria last? ›
Even when prepared the right way, sangria can go bad if stored improperly. When purchased from a store and refrigerated unopened, sangria can last up to three months. When prepared yourself, if stored in an airtight container and refrigerated, it may last up to seven days.
What tastes good with sangria? ›
Enjoy this recipe alongside any of your favorite summer dishes. A few of our favorite pairings include patatas bravas, stuffed peppers, veggie burgers, and salads. If you do give it a try, let us know what you think by leaving a comment and rating it so other readers know how much you loved it.
How do you pair sangria? ›
Due to its refreshing and fruity nature, sangria pairs best with salty, smoky, and even spicy dishes. Luckily, cheese comes in all shapes and sizes and typically goes well with at least one or two dishes. The most important thing to remember when pairing with your red or white sangria – the earthier the better.
A Winter Sangria
