Best Red Sangria Recipe

This Red Sangria Recipe is the best you will try! Blackberry brandy and amaretto, mixed with delicious wine and fruit make the most refreshing summer cocktail!

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Why This Recipe Works

• Blackberry brandy and amaretto add a depth and dimension to this sangria that beats out all the other recipes! You will also love this Aperol negroni and Empress Gin Cocktail.
• You can make this red sangria with rum or vodka. You should probably be sipping on this epic sangria will noshing on this Trader Joe’s Charcuterie Board. Just sayin!
• This is the perfect fruity and refreshing cocktail for your party or summer BBQ. If you love a fruity and delicious drink, be sure to check out this refreshing Dragon Fruit Drink.

Which red wine is best for sangria?

Generally, a dry red wine is best to mix with the sweet amaretto and brandy. Traditional Spanish sangria is popular with garnacha or grenache. Pinot noir is also a good choice.

Can you recommend a sangria pitcher to serve this cocktail at my party?

Sangria is often served in a decorative pitcher. I love this sangria pitcher for some beautiful party flair. I also recommend a cute set of serving glasses. This is my favorite formal glass to use for an indoor party. However, if you are going to be at an outdoor party, near a pool or at a BBQ, you might consider these unbreakable wine glasses.

Can leftover wine be used?

Sangria is an excellent way to use up a bottle of wine that has been uncorked. Once you mix the wine with the delicious fruit, amaretto and brandy you won’t notice the difference!

Can I make this recipe with vodka or rum?

If you prefer vodka or rum to brandy, you can certainly switch them out. Vodka or rum will add a different alcohol flavor profile and will be less sweet than blackberry brandy but that is perfectly fine.

If you would like to increase the sweetness you can add a little extra amaretto to offset or you can use sprite or ginger ale instead of sparkling water.

What type of brandy to use?

Blackberry brandy is used in this recipe. Fruit flavored brandy is generally sweeter than a regular brandy. You can use different fruit flavors including peach brandy, apricot brandy or cherry brandy.

If you use regular brandy, it will be less sweet so you can add additional amaretto if you like. Hiram Walker Brandy, DeKuyper Brandy or even Chambord can be used.

Can I use this recipe to make white wine sangria?

Absolutely! You can use white wine instead of red wine in this recipe. For other white sangria ideas, head on over to my Best White Sangria Recipe.

Using different berries with white wine provides for some beautiful color. You can try strawberries, raspberries, peaches, cherries or grapes, along with any citrus fruit or apples you like.

What type of fruit to use?

Sangria is a fruit friendly recipe. Traditional authentic sangria will typically include, lemons, limes and green apples. However, most fruits work really well including:

• Oranges
• Cherries
• Strawberries
• Raspberries
• Blackberries

Should I add sparkling water, sprite or ginger ale?

You can use whatever you prefer. However, sparkling water is going to be less sweet than sprite or ginger ale. Sprite or ginger ale will work well if you use regular brandy instead of a flavored fruit brandy.

Does this recipe last overnight?

Sangria is great overnight. Arguably even better because it allows the fruit flavors to mix with the wine, brandy and amaretto. About 24 hours is a good timeframe.

Can I use simple syrup instead of amaretto?

Yes. Amaretto is a sweet Italian liqueur that originated in Saronno, Italy. It is syrupy and has an almond flavor. If you don’t have amaretto, you can use simple syrup instead.

Simple syrup is sugar dissolved in water. You can buy at most stores in the liquor section or on Amazon here.

If you want to make simple syrup yourself, simply (no pun intended!) combine equal parts water and sugar in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring, until sugar has dissolved. Allow to cool.

If you don’t have amaretto or simple syrup, you can use sprite instead of sparkling water if you want some extra sweetness.

The beauty of sangria is that it is very flexible and usually always tastes delicious!

Looking for other delicious cocktail ideas?

• Espresso Martini with Baileys
• Godiva Chocolate Martini
• White Sangria Recipe
• Strawberry Vodka
• White Chocolate Liqueur
• Tres Leches Cocktail
• Vodka Margarita
• Cherry Manhattan

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