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December 8, 2020

Christmas Sangria | Best Christmas Cocktail

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Christmas sangria is the perfect way to ring in the holiday season.  This Christmas cocktail strikes the perfect balance between sweet, fruity and crisp.

  

We can’t think of a better festive cocktail than this delicious red wine sangria recipe.  Serve by the glass for an evening of Nextflix with your loved ones or in a pitcher for a large Christmas party or holiday gathering.  This is the best Christmas cocktail we love serving all season long.  

With the holidays around the corner, we can’t think of a better way to usher in the new season than with winter sangria.  Made with sweet red wine, fresh fruit and Brandy – this holiday sangria recipe will have them begging for a second and third glass.  

One of the things we love most about this super simple Christmas sangria recipe is just how versatile it is to make.  You can easily adjust the sangria ingredients for the season.  

For example, we added fresh cranberries and cinnamon sticks which add the perfect flavors for Christmas and New Years.  However, this recipe can be easily adjusted for the Spring and Summer, too. 

 

SHOP CHRISTMAS SANGRIA ESSENTIALS

 

 

WHAT IS THE BEST WINE TO USE IN SANGRIA? 

There are a ton of great red and white wines you can use in a in a red or white sangria recipe, but we almost always choose Cabernet Sauvignon as it’s one of our favorites.  We also like to limit the amount of artifical sugars we put in our sangria so you can also choose a sweet red wine, if preferred.  

Frequently recommended wines for red sangria are Grenache, Merlot, Tempranillo, and also Pinot Noir and Zinfandel.

For a white sangria recipe, a dry, crisp white wine works best, such as a Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc or a Riesling.

Our general rule is: only use a wine for sangria you would love to drink.  If you choose a wine you enjoy, you will likely not fail with this Christmas sangria recipe. 

 

LOOKING FOR AFFORDABLE RED WINES?  HERE ARE OUR FAVORITES UNDER $15:

  1. Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon – $14.99
  2. Apothic Red Blend – $8.99 
  3. Roscato Sweet Red Wine – $11.99
  4. Prophecy Pinot Noir – $10.99

 

WHAT ARE THE BEST FRUITS TO USE IN SANGRIA? 

Similar to the wine you choose, you can almost never go wrong with any fruit you choose to include in your sangria recipe.  

What we love about sangria is you can change the fruit you include with the seasons.  For this recipe, we chose to use orange slices, fresh cranberries (you can also use frozen cranberries) and lime slices.  

Here are just a few of our other favorite fruits to include in sangria: 

  • Apple slices or apple chunks (we love using Granny Smith Apples) 
  • Pears 
  • Raspberries 
  • Cherries 
  • Blueberries 
  • Peaches
  • Pineapple
  • Pomegranate Arils

 

 

HOW SHOULD I SERVE SANGRIA? 

Christmas sangria is one of our favorite holiday cocktail recipes.  It’s one of the best Christmas cocktails to serve for family holiday gatherings, Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, for office Christmas parties and more!  

With that said, we recommend serving in a punch bowl for larger gatherings (we use this 10-piece punch bowl set all the time). If not, sangria can be served in a drink pitcher with stemless wine glasses. If you’re planning to sip that sangria all day (or save it in your fridge for the whole weekend), opt for a punch dispenser.

 

HOW LONG WITH SANGRIA LAST IN THE REFRIGERATOR? 

When kept in the refrigerator, this festive drink will keep for about three to four days before it becomes stale or odd-tasting.

DId you know you can also free your sangria recipe?  When kept in the freezer, the cocktail will last for 3 months approximately. 

 

INGREDIENTS FOR CHRISTMAS SANGRIA

  • 1 bottle red wine 
  • 1 cup orange juice
  • 1 cup apple juice (you can also use sparkling apple cider) 
  • 1 cup cranberry juice 
  • 2-4 cinnamon sticks 
  • 2 oranges, sliced 
  • 1 cup fresh cranberries (can also use frozen cranberries)
  • 1 lime, sliced 
  • Rosemary sprigs
  • 1/2 cup Brandy (optional if you’d like even more alcohol content)
  • 1/4 cup sugar (optional if you’d like more sweet)

 

HOW TO MAKE THE ULTIMATE HOLIDAY SANGRIA

  1. Combine bottle of wine, orange juice, apple juice or apple cider, cranberry juice, fresh cranberries, orange slices, lime slices and cinnamon sticks in a large pitcher.  
  2. Stir to combine and refrigerate for 2-4 hours before serving.  
  3. When ready to serve, remove from refrigerator and serve in stemless wine glasses.  Garnish with additional rosemary sprigs and fresh fruit slices.
  4. Enjoy!

 

 

LOOKING FOR OTHER DELICIOUS DRINK RECIPES? HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF OUR FAVORITES: 

 

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Christmas Sangria

5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 bottle red wine 
  • 1 cup orange juice
  • 1 cup apple juice (you can also use sparkling apple cider)
  • 1 cup cranberry juice 
  • 2-4 cinnamon sticks 
  • 2 oranges, sliced
  • 1 cup fresh cranberries (can also use frozen cranberries)
  • 1 lime, sliced
  • Rosemary sprigs
  • 1/2 cup Brandy (optional if you'd like even more alcohol content)
  • 1/4 cup sugar (optional if you'd like more sweet)

Instructions:

  • Combine bottle of wine, orange juice, apple juice or apple cider, cranberry juice, fresh cranberries, orange slices, lime slices and cinnamon sticks in a large pitcher.  
  • Stir to combine and refrigerate for 2-4 hours before serving. 
  • When ready to serve, remove from refrigerator and serve in stemless wine glasses.  Garnish with additional rosemary sprigs and fresh fruit slices.
  • Enjoy!

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