Sangria

Learning how to make sangria is a life skill that pays dividends. A classic red sangria recipe is crowd-pleasing partially because it’s so versatile. You can create seemingly infinite variations according to mood, season, and the contents of your home bar.

So, what is sangria, exactly? The large-format cocktail hails from Spain and Portugal. Traditional sangria ingredients include dry red wine, fresh fruit, a sweetener, and a modifier, such as orange liqueur or brandy, but the rubric is ripe for customization. Add sparkling water, club soda, or even ginger ale for a bubbly pour. Out of Cointreau? Swap in Grand Marnier—or, for a less boozy option, orange juice or another fruit juice like cranberry or apple cider. 

Fill your pitcher of sangria with sliced citrus or a handful of raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, pomegranate seeds, or even cubed pear or watermelon. Let the mixture steep in the fridge for at least an hour (and up to 24) so that the fruit has time to permeate the drink. If you give it a taste and decide you want your sangria a little sweeter, a drizzle of simple syrup will do perfectly.

The best wine to use depends on your palate. Most red sangria recipes call for a Spanish red wine like Rioja, Tempranillo, or Garnacha, but you can substitute any dry, fruity variety you have on hand, such as Merlot, Zinfandel, or Gamay. Not a red wine fan? Use a white wine like Albariño or Pinot Grigio to make white sangria, or consider rosé sangria, or sparkling wine sangria using cava or prosecco.