Winter Sangria – Perfectly Festive for the Holidays!
Warm up your Christmas or holiday gatherings with this Winter Sangria recipe, a festive drink that brings the cozy flavors of the season to life.
This red wine sangria recipe combines a rich Rioja wine with seasonal apples, oranges, and lemons, enhanced with the warmth of cinnamon and a touch of bubbly Prosecco.
Table of Contents
Fall and winter are the perfect times for this Sangria. Its warm cinnamon spice notes evoke the winter holidays, and the cinnamon sugar rim adds an extra special sweet, delicious taste sensation, adding one more level of flavor. Apple cider and apples are in peak season, so both are fresh and abundant. Citrus also starts to make its seasonal debut in winter.
This is a great recipe for parties and it goes fast! It’s beloved by red and white wine fans alike. Depending on the size of your party, you can easily double or triple the recipe to make a large pitcher of this winter sangria.
Ingredients for the Perfect Winter Sangria
- Red Wine— Choose a bold, fruit-forward red wine like Rioja, Tempranillo, or a Spanish red blend. These wines have enough body and flavor to stand up to the added spices and fruits. A Merlot or Zinfandel can work if you don’t have Spanish wines, but avoid overly sweet wines as the fruit and cider add natural sweetness.
- Apple Cider—For a rich, autumnal flavor, Use fresh, high-quality apple cider (unfiltered if possible). Apple cider adds natural sweetness and enhances the winter feel of the sangria. Unsweetened apple juice is a suitable alternative if apple cider isn’t available.
- Limoncello – A quality limoncello adds a bright, citrusy sweetness to the sangria while balancing the boldness of the wine.
- Brandy—For depth and warmth, Use a smooth, mid-range brand like Christian Brothers VSOP, Korbel Brandy, Copper & Kings American Brandy, E&J VSOP, and Torres 10 Gran Reserva Brandy. Brandy enriches the sangria with its warm, fruity notes and adds a subtle kick. Cognac or bourbon can be used for a slightly different but equally delicious flavor.
- Fresh Lemons and Oranges – The oranges add brightness and balance the spiced and fruity flavors, while the tartness of the lemons cuts through the sweetness. Use one orange for juice and thinly slice another for garnish. Avoid bottled lemon juice.
- Apples – Choose firm, flavorful apples like Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Gala, or Fuji. Apples add crunch and sweetness. Thinly slice the apples to maximize the surface area for infusing.
- Cinnamon Sticks – Whole cinnamon sticks add a warm, spiced note to this festive winter sangria. Use whole sticks instead of ground cinnamon for better flavor and easier removal.
- Prosecco – Dry Prosecco lightens the sangria and adds a refreshing sparkle and a bubbly, festive finish. Sparkling water or ginger ale can be used.
- Ground Cinnamon and Sugar (Optional for Rim)—Dipping the glass rim in ground cinnamon and granulated sugar before pouring the sangria adds a festive, sweet touch and enhances the cinnamon flavor in the drink. Wet the glass rim with an orange wedge before dipping in the cinnamon sugar.
- Ice for Serving—This Winter Sangria is best served chilled. The ice will also encourage the bubbles of the Prosecco to stay longer.
How to Serve this Festive Winter Sangria
Depending on the number of guests, you can serve your Sangria in a large pitcher or a glass beverage container with a spout. Referencing the recipe below, pour your Sangria into the pitcher or container after step 4.
This Sangria is perfect for a ‘buffet’ style setup.
- Have the glasses at the beginning of the table, along with slices of orange to run around the rim and a plate of cinnamon sugar.
- Next, have an ice bucket and a container of cinnamon sticks for your guests to add to their glasses.
- Then, have your container or pitcher of Sangria ready for your guests to pour into their glasses. You might have a note suggesting they leave a little room for Prosecco. A long spoon will help stir the contents from time to time. Keep a backup container of the Sangria chilling in the fridge.
- Have chilled Prosecco bottles so your guests can top off their glasses.
- Salud!
What Else to Serve at Your Holiday Gathering
- A Christmas tree charcuterie board is a delicious treat to serve at your holiday gathering. This festive arrangement blends cured meats, cheeses, and seasonal garnishes for a treat as beautiful as it is tasty. This article lists suggested meats, cheeses, and salty and sweet ideas for your charcuterie board.
- This Cranberry Jalapeño Dip perfectly balances tart cranberries and spicy jalapeños spread over cream cheese and is ideal for any gathering. With a vibrant mix of fresh ingredients, this dip requires just 20 minutes of prep and a little patience for the flavors to meld in the fridge. Serve it up as a crowd-pleaser for holiday parties or anytime you want to impress with a unique and delicious dip!
- This Roasted Olives Recipe features a variety of olives, caperberries, garlic, herbs, and soft and mellow feta cheese to finish it off. It is a quick, easy, elegant olives appetizer that will impress!
- This Rosemary and Goat Cheese with Ginger Preserve Appetizer is an easy and foolproof recipe that will please everyone!
Making Winter Sangria in Advance
This festive beverage benefits from advanced preparation. The flavors need at least three hours in the fridge to meld.
Don’t make it more than 24 hours in advance, or the apples will lose their crunch. The beverage will stay fresh for two to three days in an airtight container, but you will most likely need to cut fresh apples for serving.
Tips for Success!
- Choose the Right Wine – Choose a bold, fruit-forward red wine such as Rioja, Tempranillo, or a Spanish red blend. These wines offer a rich depth of flavor that pairs well with the warm spices and fruit in winter sangria. Avoid overly sweet wines; the added fruit and juices provide natural sweetness.
- Use Fresh Ingredients – Use freshly squeezed orange and lemon juice for the best flavor.
- Allow Time for Flavors to Meld – Let the sangria sit in the refrigerator for at least 6–12 hours before serving. This ensures the fruits and spices infuse fully into the wine.
- Add Bubbles Last – Top off the sangria with Prosecco or sparkling water right before serving to retain its fizz and freshness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! This Winter Sangria is ideal for making in advance. Prepare it up to 24 hours before serving to allow the flavors to meld. Add the Prosecco right before serving.
Absolutely. Swap the red wine with grape juice, apple cider, or cranberry juice, and replace the brandy and limoncello with a few orange and lemon juice splashes. Use sparkling water, ginger ale or a non-alcoholic sparkling wine to top it off.
Leftover sangria can be stored in the fridge for two to three days. However, for the freshest flavor, it’s best enjoyed within 24 hours, as the fruit may start to soften and lose its structure over time.
Serve Winter Sangria in wine or cocktail glasses, topped with Prosecco, and garnished with a cinnamon stick or slice of fruit from the pitcher. For an added touch, rim each glass with cinnamon sugar.
If you prefer a lighter sangria, use a dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio. The flavor will be a bit different but still delicious and refreshing.
Winter Sangria
Equipment
- pitcher
- wine glasses or cocktail glasses
- mandolin for slicing fruit - optional
- juicer or lemon squeezer
- knife
- large spoon for stirring
Ingredients
- 1 750ml bottle of Rioja red wine any Spanish dry red wine, Tempranillo or a red blend will work
- 1 ½ cups apple cider
- ½ cup limoncello
- ½ cup Brandy
- 5 oranges 2 for juice, 2 for slicing and 1 to wet glass rims.
- 3 lemon 1 for juice, 2 for slicing.
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 2-3 apples, thinly sliced such as honeycrisp, Braeburn, gala or Fuji
- prosecco for topping off when served substitute with sparkling water
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon optional (for the rim)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar optional (for the rim)
- 5-6 cinnamon sticks optional (one for each glass)
- ice for each glass
Instructions
- Juice two oranges and one lemon.
- Pour the bottle of red wine, apple cider, limoncello, brandy, orange juice, lemon juice, and 3 cinnamon sticks into a pitcher and stir.
- Add 2-3 sliced apples, sliced oranges and sliced lemons.
- Cover and let sit in the refrigerator for at least 6 and up to 12 hours to allow for the flavors to meld.
- If using a cinnamon sugar rim, combine 1 tablespoon of cinnamon and ¼ cup of sugar on a dish or shallow bowl. Using water or an orange wedge, wet the rim of the glass and dip it into the cinnamon and sugar.
- Stir the contents of the sangria to combine. Some fruit bits and juice may have settled on the bottom so stir anytime the sangria has been sitting for a while.
- Add some ice if you are using and a cinnamon stick to each glass.
- Pour the sangria about ½ to ¾ of the way up the glass and top off the drink with some prosecco (or sparkling water)
- Add one of the sliced apples from the sangria (they are a delicious snack for after the drink is gone!) and Enjoy!
Nutrition
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