Fall Sangria (Honey Bourbon Sangria Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

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.

Red Wine

Sangria / Main ingredient

Spanish Sangria Ingredients:

If you ask bartenders here in Spain how to make sangria, they will be the first to tell you that — technically — there is no standard way to make sangria. It's really just a wine punch made with seasonal fruit, sweetener, a good splash of brandy, and possibly something fizzy added in.

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?

The Overnight Resting Period Is Important!

This lets the fruit infuse the wine, letting its juices get in the mix and sweeten up the drink.

What Is the Best Wine For Sangria? Any dry red wine will work, but we like to use fruity Spanish wine, such as Garnacha for the best flavor results. It doesn't have to be the most expensive bottle either. You'll be adding so many sweet ingredients to the wine that will dress it up.

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.

The longer sangria sits in the refrigerator, the more the wine soaks into the fruit. I recommend refrigerating the sangria for at least 2 hours before serving, but preferably overnight.

7.5 % Alcohol

Red Spanish Wine base – Ruby Red Color Sweet and fruit forward with citrus notes Full and round flavor, sweet.

Sangria, wine mixed with fruit, has always been legal and available. The issue comes about when Sangria is mixed with brandy or other spirits that raises the alcohol content of the drink. Alcohol-boosted Sangria was illegal because of a 1934 law formed post-prohibition to keep the percentage of alcohol low in drinks.

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.

The name sangria once meant “blood,” which it got because of its dark red color. Mexican sangria is similar to the fruit and wine of Spanish sangria, but it has a higher alcohol content. The high alcohol content makes this drink a great pairing with spicy food, like hot salsa.

What Is the Best Brandy for Sangria? To keep the sangria authentic, use a Spanish brandy, such as brandy de Jerez. However, at such a low volume, the brandy doesn't have a huge impact on sangria. Feel free to pour any brandy you have in the bar.

You can also think about pairing it with dishes like empanadas, grilled steak, chorizo, manchego cheese, or sweet and sour meatballs. The bold flavors of red sangria can stand up to the richness of these dishes, creating a perfect match.

Sangria is as sweet as you make it. As a general rule, it's going to be fruity, so start with a dry red wine to keep that sugar content down. Pick fruits that lean more tart than sweet (like Granny Smith apples rather than white peaches), add more acidic juice like lemonade, or simply don't add sugar to your mixture.

The longer sangria sits in the refrigerator, the more the wine soaks into the fruit. I recommend refrigerating the sangria for at least 2 hours before serving, but preferably overnight.

Refrigerate in a Small Airtight Container: The secret to making sangria last longer is to prevent air exposure.

Serve as is, or with a bit more ice. Garnish with orange segments (optional). Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours, though best when fresh.

However, Sangria has wine and fruit in it - and these things tend to decay in warmth. Wine becomes vinegar rather quickly once exposed to air. Fruit of course gets mushy and falls apart. It's really in your best interest to keep your Sangria in the fridge at all times - and use ice cubes when it's out on the table.