Sparkling Red Sangria

Sparkling Red Sangria is made with your favorite red wine, a splash of orange liqueur, small bites of fresh fruit, and bubbles!

The longer the fruit soaks, the more of the sangria it absorbs for a snack once you finish your cocktail! This red wine sangria recipe is a fabulously easy make-ahead cocktail.

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Sparkling Red Wine Sangria

Sparkling Red Wine Sangria is a fantastic year-round cocktail. Whether you’re planning a romantic dinner for two or a backyard barbecue for a crowd, batch cocktails like this red wine sangria are always a great choice. The best thing about my favorite sangria recipes is that the longer it sits, the better it tastes!

Not only do I love sangria, but I love all things wine. I have a ton of recipes that feature wine. From Tender Pork Marsala served over Gorgonzola Celery Root Mashed Potatoes or homemade semolina pasta, to a holiday prime rib roast, wine not only tenderizes, but enhances the flavor of savory dishes. Have you ever used wine to make something sweet? I made a summer crostini with strawberries, goat cheese, and a red wine caramel. Pure heaven!

About Sangria

Sangria is an alcoholic punch. It traditionally consists of red wine and chopped fruit. Other ingredients often include fruit juices for sweetening as well as a cordial like brandy. Sangria recipes vary widely depending on the region.

Sangria originated in Spain and Portugal. The name is believed to have come from the Spanish word sangre, which means blood. Sangria recipes have been adapted over the years to vary beyond red wine, and you’ll see a ton of white wine sangria, or sangria blanca, recipes which are especially popular during the warm summer months.

This version is my favorite twist: a classic red sangria that gets topped with prosecco right before you drink it, so every glass is fizzy and fun.

What You’ll Need

Just six ingredients, and one of them is the bubbles. Exact amounts are in the recipe card below.

• Red wine: I like to start this sparkling red sangria with a bold red wine. A red blend is my wine of choice, but you could also use a merlot, cabernet, or pinot noir. Honestly, any red wine you enjoy drinking will work.
• Apples and oranges: I highly recommend a crisp, sweet, and tart Pink Lady apple. They have incredible flavor, and a white flesh, which ends up turning different shades of pink, depending on how long you let the fruit soak. I also recommend Cara Cara oranges as they also have fantastic flavor and are very juicy.
• Orange liqueur: like Grand Marnier, Cointreau or triple sec. The liqueur brings out the flavors in the fruit. Do you have to use brandy? Nope! I don’t even own brandy!
• Apple juice: to sweeten it and balance things out. I like using an unfiltered Honeycrisp cider, but you can use your favorite brand.
• Prosecco: to take this drink from fabulous to super fabulous! Sparkling apple cider adds a little more sweetness and flavor, or use a splash of sparkling water for bubbles without the extra alcohol.

Other fruits you may consider using could be pineapple, peaches, nectarines, berries, pears, or melon. Common ways to sweeten sangria also include just adding sugar. One could never go wrong with some fresh orange juice, either.

How to Make Sparkling Red Sangria

Making sangria is super simple. It just takes a bit of time in the fridge to get the most flavor.

Step 1: Chop the fruit

Cut the apple and orange into small pieces. I prefer the size of the cut fruit be small enough to easily eat, but large enough to hold its texture and shape.

Step 2: Add the wine, liqueur and juice

Add the fruit to a large pitcher and cover with wine, then stir in the orange liqueur and apple juice. At this point you can add anything else you like to your sangria.

Step 3: Taste it

Give your punch a taste. Keep in mind that the flavors will develop as it soaks, but if you need more of anything, add it now.

Step 4: Chill

Refrigerate the sangria for at least an hour. Longer is better.

PRO TIP: Do not add anything carbonated until you’re pouring the sangria and serving it to yourself or your guests! The bubbles go flat if they sit in the fridge.

Step 5: Pour and top with bubbles

Pour the sangria into an ice-filled glass with a scoop of the fruit, then top it off with prosecco or sparkling apple cider. How much depends on the size of your glass, so fill it most of the way with sangria and finish it with the bubbles.

Making It for a Crowd

This recipe makes 6 servings, and you can absolutely double it for a crowd. Mix it in a big pitcher or two so everything has time to chill.

When I’m serving a crowd, I pour the prosecco straight into the pitcher instead of topping off every glass. It definitely makes it easier! Just add it right before your guests start pouring, because once the prosecco is in, the bubbles start to fade.

Want a second pitcher with a different flavor? My Apple Cider Sangria is perfect for fall, and Spiced Apple Prosecco uses the same bottle of bubbly.

★★★★★

“I’ve made this a few times now and we all love it! So easy and delicious!”

Kass, reader comment

Making It Ahead

The best party drinks are the ones that can be made ahead of time, and this one needs time in the fridge anyway.

• Chill it at least 1 hour so the fruit soaks up the wine.
• Make it up to 24 hours ahead. I wouldn’t go longer than that, because the fruit starts to get soft and gross.
• Keep the fruit under the wine. Any fruit floating on top and exposed to air will oxidize and turn brown.

Will sangria get you drunk?

Seems like a silly question, but people ask.

Yes – you can get drunk from sangria. It’s no different than drinking wine because, well, you are drinking wine. If, for some reason you think that by soaking wine in fruit and juice that it becomes any less alcoholic, you’re wrong.

Can I add vodka?

Sure. Add a splash along with the orange liqueur and adjust it to your taste. Just know it makes the sangria stronger.

Can sangria be served warm?

Absolutely. Make a big batch and warm it in your crockpot, without the bubbles. Prosecco won’t stay fizzy in a hot drink. Warm sangria is the perfect holiday party drink during the fall and winter months.

I think iced sangria is fantastic for an outdoor barbecue. When I think of sipping on an ice cold glass of sangria, I picture myself sitting in the sun and watching the birds and the butterflies.

What’s the difference between prosecco and Champagne?

Prosecco is a sparkling wine from Italy, and Champagne comes from France. Prosecco gets its bubbles in big tanks instead of in the bottle, so it’s fruitier and a lot less expensive. That makes it perfect for topping off sangria.

Which prosecco should I buy?

A brut or extra dry prosecco. Despite the name, extra dry is a little sweeter than brut. Cava or any dry sparkling wine you like works too.

More Sangria Recipes

Love a good pitcher drink? These are a few more of my favorites.

Apple Cider Sangria

Summer Berry Sangria

Citrus Beer Sangria

Spiced Apple Prosecco