Easy sangria

Transport yourself to Spain with our ultimate easy sangria recipe – perfect for enjoying with plates of tapas. Our simple make-ahead version pairs a fruity red wine with oranges, lemons, brandy and sparkling water.

• Easy, customisable recipe: Sangria at its simplest includes red wine, one or more mixers and chopped fruit (often with an added spirit), but there is no one recipe for this summer cocktail. In our testing, we liked the balance of rioja, orange juice, brandy and sparkling water, but see Tips below for more ideas for making the drink your own. We’ve included caster sugar as an optional ingredient, depending on how sweet you like your sangria.
• Classic Spanish cocktail: Sangria is a red wine punch that hails from Spain and Portugal, where the version we recognise today has been enjoyed since the early 19th century, and is very popular with tourists. The drink can only be sold commercially under the name sangria if it’s made in these two countries. A precursor to sangria called Leonese lemonade was prepared in the Kingdom of Léon (a northwest region of the Iberisan Peninsula) in the middle ages, which combined wine, citrus, sugar and spices; it’s still served today during Holy Week (the seven days before Easter Sunday).
• Mix up the fruit: We’ve suggested a classic combination of orange and lemon slices, which add to the balance of flavours and look attractive in the serving jug, but in Spain the fruit included varies depending on what’s available locally and seasonally. Apples and strawberries are common inclusions; see Tips for more ideas.

Try our white sangria next, garnished with strawberries and mint.