Sangria cocktail recipe

Sangria is the perfect accompaniment for when you have guests joining for brunch, dinner or a big fiesta. A breeze to make ahead of time, Sangria is generally served in a jug, like a punch, and can easily be divided among a group. One of the most popular drinks to be enjoyed with Spanish cuisine, it combines red wine with fruit, sugar and a little brandy to create a delicious cocktail.

Sangria translates to ‘bloodletting’ in Spanish and Portuguese, and using the term to describe a red-wine-based concoction can be traced back to the 18th century. Back then, water was full of bacteria and not considered safe to drink, so liquid with alcohol in it was preferred as it was purified. Wine grapes were growing abundant, and to liven things up, people would add fruits and spices to red wine. The practice stuck, and Sangria has been one of the most popular drinks in Spain and surrounding countries ever since. Serve your Sangria with a table full of Spanish-inspired tapas and pretend you’re living it up on the other side of the world.

The greatest thing about Sangria is that anything goes. Don’t have maple syrup? Use honey syrup instead, or add orange juice as your sweet element. It will also help dilute the mix with a twist.

When it comes to fruit, it’s ideal to have oranges and lemons, but as for your mixed cup of goodies, the world is your oyster. Excellent options are strawberries, watermelon, kiwi fruit, apple, and raspberries, or anything that's in season.

While Spanish Rioja – tempranillo-based wines – is the most traditional base, the choice is once again fairly open. Some like to use lighter styles of reds, like pinot or grenache, if they are drinking their Sangria in summer, and then bolder reds like malbec or shiraz for winter. It’s up to you! And since it’s being mixed with lots of things, don’t worry about reaching for the premium wines – an affordable bottle will do the trick.