Maybe, after the holidays, you still have an open bottle of Champagne? Or some white or rosé tucked in the back of the fridge? Or a lonely red wine with a cork in it? Well, go ahead and revamp it back to life! Add in some fruit and voilà! you’ve made a vibrant sangria! Homemade sangria is creative and simple. The first step is to “chop your fruit,” then toss it in a large pitcher, and stir in everything else. You can opt to add your choice of sweetener, then cover it and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes. When you are ready to serve it, splash it into a nice wine glass over ice, topping off each glass with some bubbly soda. Be sure to add some of the pretty, colourful fruit into your cup!
Basic Directions
1. Combine the brandy, peach schnapps, and fruit. Add in the wine.
2. Stir and refrigerate for up to 4 hours.
3. To serve, add fruit from the jug to the bottom of a glass. Fill 3⁄4 of the glass with Sangria. Top off with club soda or other bubbly options mentioned.
White Sangria
- Slice up 2 oranges, 2 limes, 2 peaches, and 1.5 cups of strawberries
- ½ cup apricot brandy and ¼ cup peach schnapps
- 750 millilitres white wine (approx. 1 bottle)
- Add club soda (champagne, prosecco, or ginger ale)
Red Sangria
- 2 bottles Spanish red wine
- ½ cup brandy
- 2 oranges, one juiced and one diced
- 1 green apple, 1 lemon diced
- 1 cinnamon stick
- Optional sweetener or muddled ginger
- Top off with bubbles: lemon-lime soda, ginger ale, or sparkling water
Rosé Sangria
- 1.5 cups of berries: maybe fresh strawberries, raspberries, or even frozen blueberries
- Chop in some other fun fruit options like blood oranges, pomegranate, cherries, or grapefruit
- Your choice of sweetener and perhaps a squeeze of lemon juice
- 750 millilitres rosé wine (approx. 1 bottle)
- Add club soda (Champagne, Prosecco, or ginger ale)
- A handful of washed fresh mint leaves to really take it up a notch!
You do not have to stick to an exact recipe—you can cater to your own taste buds! Gather whatever ingredients you have on hand and customise it. Here are some variation ideas:
- Use a different wine. Red wine is traditional with Spanish sangria, but a good Spanish white or rosé wine adds a modern spin.
- Use a different liqueur. Maybe brandy isn’t your thing? Try cognac or orange liqueurs such as Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or Triple Sec.
- Experiment with other sweeteners like honey, stevia, agave syrup, simple syrup, maple syrup, orange juice, or a splash of grenadine.
Sangria is the perfect way to use leftover fresh or frozen fruit, so add whatever fruits you have on hand. Juicy fruits such as citrus, berries, grapes, kiwi, peaches, or apples make for a delicious drink. Want to spin your sangria into a Caribbean vibe? Go ahead and toss in mango, guava, pineapple, or papaya.
If you’d like to give your sangria a bit of a kick, muddle in a few slices of fresh ginger. It may sound crazy, but if you’re a fan of spice, you can even muddle in a jalapeño slice or two (but be sure to forewarn your friends and guests!).
Are you committed to a DRY JANUARY?
That doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the sangria fun! Choose a fabulous glass, splash in some Sprite or club soda, and add all those same wonderful fruits. Toss in a splash of cranberry or grenadine to make it a “rosé” colour, garnish with a bit of mint, and add a straw. Make one for your teens or kids, and you’ve found a sneaky way to get them to eat more healthy fruits!
