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Red Wine Christmas Sangria

Red Wine Christmas Sangria makes a beautifully festive cocktail made with red wine, brandy, liqueur, fresh fruit, and agave nectar. Doubling this recipe for parties is highly recommended because it disappears fast!

overhead photo of wine glasses of sangria with fruit and description for Pinterest

I love Sangria any time of year, but a large pitcher of this delicious red wine cocktail looks especially festive for the holidays. I use agave nectar in my cocktails as a substitute for sugar and simple syrup. It’s a little sweeter than table sugar, so add it to taste if you are making your own substitutions. This Sangria recipe is a staple for my holiday parties, along with my favorite non-alcoholic cranberry Christmas punch. It’s an amazing low-sugar punch recipe that tastes just as good as the original version. These Christmas drink recipes have become quite popular at holiday gatherings. I always get requests for the recipes!

You don’t have to throw a party to make this recipe, feel free to hoard this pitcher all to yourself. No judgment here. 😉

four glasses of red wine sangria garnished with lime

Holiday Sangria recipeHow To Make Red Wine Sangria

Ingredients:

  • 1 (750-ml) bottle red wine 
  • 1/4 cup brandy 
  • 1/4 cup orange-flavored liqueur (recommended: Triple Sec or Grand Marnier)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1/4 cup light amber agave nectar
  • 1 orange, thinly sliced
  • 1 pear, cut into chunks
  • 1/2 red apple and 1/2 green apple, cored, and cut into chunks
  • 1 (750-ml) bottle sparkling water, chilled
ingredients for sangria on a countertop

Directions:

Prepare your fruit…First, rinse and core the pear and apples.

green apple cored on a cutting board

Next, slice the orange and chop the pear and apples into chunks.

orange sliced on a black cutting board
 
It’s going to soak up lots of booze. Eating drunk fruit is the best part. 😉
chopped pear and apples on a black cutting board
 
Combine everything but the sparkling water in a large container or glass pitcher.
sangria in a large glass pitcher

Cover and chill completely, 1 to 2 hours. When ready to serve, add the sparkling water. 

How To Serve Christmas Sangria

Ladle into stemless wine glasses with a garnish of lime or serve in a decorative drink dispenser or glass pitcher with fruit garnish on the side.

Christmas sangria in glasses ready to serve

What Kind of Red Wine Is Best For Sangria?

A popular Spanish pick for Sangria is Garnacha (aka Grenache) since it’s fruity with notes of ripe cherry. Ideally, you want a dry red wine that’s fruity with low tannins. Other good options are fruity varieties of Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Pinot Noir, and Red Zinfandel. I don’t use the cheap stuff, but there’s no need to go with an expensive bottle of wine when you’re adding other ingredients.

How Far In Advance Can You Make Sangria?

If you are whipping this up for a party, you can make this a day in advance to save time. Just make sure that you don’t add the sparkling water until right before serving.

How Long Will Sangria Last?

If you store the sangria in a sealed container in the refrigerator it will keep up to five days, but it’s best consumed in three days or less. Since Sangria is made with fresh fruit it does need to be stored in the refrigerator for maximum freshness.

More Festive Holiday Cocktail Recipes

Orange Cranberry Prosecco Cocktail

Raspberry Ginger Fizz 

overhead photo of four glasses of Christmas sangria with greenery in background
four glasses of red wine sangria garnished with lime

Christmas Sangria

Red Wine Christmas Sangria makes a beautifully festive cocktail made with red wine, brandy, liqueur, fresh fruit, and agave nectar.
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Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Mexican
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Refrigeration Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 118kcal
Author: Amee

Ingredients

  • 750 ml bottle red wine
  • 1/4 cup brandy
  • 1/4 cup orange-flavored liqueur recommended: Triple Sec or Grand Marnier
  • 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1/4 cup light amber agave nectar
  • 1 orange thinly sliced
  • 1 pear cut into chunks
  • 1/2 red apple cored, and cut into chunks
  • 1/2 green apple cored, and cut into chunks
  • 750 ml bottle sparkling water chilled

Instructions

  • Slice and chop the fruit
  • Combine everything but the sparkling water in a large plastic container or glass pitcher.
  • Cover and chill completely, 1 to 2 hours.
  • When ready to serve, add the sparkling water.

Nutrition

Calories: 118kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 143mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 35IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @ameecooks or tag #ameecooks!
Amee Livingston
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