Beverages

Serving

Sangria

Name: Sangria
Total time: 135 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Beverages
Ingredients: 1 bottle (750 ml) red wine; 1/4 cup brandy; 1/2 cup orange juice; 1 orange, sliced; 1 apple, diced; 2 tablespoons sugar; 1/2 cup club soda

A fruity Spanish red wine punch infused with brandy, citrus, and fresh fruit.

135 minutes

Serves 6

Snack

47 min prep

74 min cook

No common allergens detected

Based on this recipe's ingredient list. Always verify with your own brands and labels.

Instructions

4 steps

1
Combine red wine, brandy, orange juice, orange slices, apple, and sugar in a large pitcher.
2
Stir well and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to let the flavors meld.
3
Just before serving, stir in club soda.
4
Serve over ice with a scoop of the macerated fruit in each glass.

Sangria — plated and served — Serving moment. How Sangria looks plated and ready to eat — a representative photo, not a step in the recipe.

Listahan Family Score™

70/100

Good fit for most families

Allergen-friendly 100

Kid-friendly 55

Weeknight-easy 54

Budget-friendly 72

Great leftovers 87

Pantry-friendly 34

Score reflects how well this recipe fits a typical busy household. In the app, your Family Score is personalized to your household's allergens, kids, and pantry.

Nutrition

per serving

Calories

0 g

Protein

13 g

Carbs

0 g

Fat

Estimated per serving. Actual values depend on the brands and portions you use.

Listahan cooking guide

Chef notes & practical guide

Technique notes, ingredient swaps, serve-alongside ideas, storage guidance, and equipment for this recipe.

Cultural context

Sangria descends from centuries-old Spanish and Portuguese traditions of mixing wine with fruit and spices to stretch a bottle further and make lower-quality wine more palatable. It later became a warm-weather party staple across Spain and, eventually, North America, prized for how well it scales up for a crowd.

Listahan note

This version lets the fruit macerate in the wine and brandy for a couple of hours before serving, which is the step most home versions skip and the one that actually makes the difference.

Technique cues

Macerating time matters more than the exact wine used; even a modest bottle tastes better after two hours steeping with fruit and brandy.
Add the club soda only right before serving so it stays fizzy instead of going flat in the fridge.
Cut the fruit into pieces small enough to eat with a spoon once the wine is gone, since the soaked fruit is half the point.

Kitchen flow

Parallel prep: Slice the fruit while the wine and brandy are being measured into the pitcher.
Make-ahead: Sangria is meant to be made ahead; the 2-hour macerating time is part of the recipe, not optional prep.
Leftover move: Spoon the wine-soaked fruit over vanilla ice cream for a quick adult dessert.
Cleanup rhythm: Rinse the pitcher and glasses promptly; red wine can stain if left standing too long.

Ingredient brief

Role, handling, and swap guidance for each key ingredient.

Red wine

Base

Purpose: A mid-range, fruit-forward red wine gives sangria its backbone without needing to be an expensive bottle.

Handling: Choose something you'd be happy drinking on its own, but there's no need to splurge.

Adaptation: White or rosé wine both make lighter versions if red isn't preferred.

Brandy

Depth and warmth

Purpose: Brandy adds a rounder, slightly caramel note that plain wine doesn't have on its own.

Handling: Add along with the fruit at the start so it has time to macerate together.

Adaptation: Orange liqueur, like triple sec, works as a sweeter alternative.

Orange and apple

Fruit and sweetness

Purpose: The fruit soaks up the wine and brandy, becoming a sweet, boozy treat by the time it's served, while also lending flavor back to the liquid.

Handling: Slice the orange and dice the apple into bite-sized pieces so they're easy to spoon out later.

Adaptation: Any seasonal fruit works, including berries, pears, or peaches.

Technique notes

Taste after macerating and adjust sugar before adding the club soda, since the wine's sweetness varies by bottle.
Add the club soda glass by glass rather than to the whole pitcher, so any leftovers stay fizzier longer.
A cinnamon stick added during the macerating step gives a subtle warmth that pairs well with the apple.

Ingredient swaps

Alcohol-free direction: Use a non-alcoholic red wine and a splash of orange juice in place of the brandy.
Lower-sugar direction: Cut the added sugar and let the fruit's natural sweetness carry the drink.
White sangria direction: Swap in a dry white wine and use peaches and green grapes instead of orange and apple.

Serve alongside

Spanish tapas
Manchego cheese and crackers
Grilled shrimp skewers
Marcona almonds
Sparkling water for guests who want a lighter pour
Vermouth on the side for a stronger option
Iced tea as a non-alcoholic alternative for the table

Serving suggestions only — check pairings for your household's allergens.

Storage & reheating

Refrigerate in a covered pitcher for up to 2 days before the club soda is added.
Add club soda only to the portion being served, since it goes flat quickly once mixed in.
The soaked fruit keeps well for a couple of days and can be served separately even after the liquid is gone.

Equipment

Large pitcher
Sharp knife for slicing fruit
Wine glasses

Make this household-aware

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