Best Sweet Sangria: An Easy Spanish-Inspired Recipe

A good sweet sangria is fruity, refreshing and easy to share. Red wine provides a rich base, fresh citrus keeps the flavour lively, and a little brandy adds warmth. The secret is to let the fruit infuse the wine before adding a sparkling mixer just before serving.

This simple recipe makes a generous jug for a gathering. Adjust the sweetness to suit your taste, and serve it well chilled over plenty of ice.

Ingredients

• 1 bottle (750ml) fruity red wine, such as Tempranillo or Garnacha
• 75ml brandy
• 2 tablespoons caster sugar, or to taste
• 1 orange, thinly sliced
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced
• 1 apple, cored and chopped
• 150ml orange juice
• 300ml lemonade, chilled
• Ice, to serve

Method

1. Pour the wine and brandy into a large jug. Add the sugar and stir until it dissolves.
2. Add the orange, lemon, apple and orange juice. Stir gently, then cover and refrigerate for at least two hours. This gives the fruit time to flavour the wine.
3. Just before serving, stir in the chilled lemonade. Taste and add a little more sugar or orange juice if you prefer a sweeter sangria.
4. Serve over ice, making sure each glass gets some of the fruit.

Tips for the best sweet sangria

• Choose a fruity wine. Pick an easy-drinking red rather than an expensive bottle with complex flavours. Avoid anything very tannic, which can taste harsh when chilled.
• Keep the fizz fresh. Add the lemonade just before serving so the sangria stays lively.
• Balance the sweetness. Start with less sugar than you think you need. The fruit and lemonade will add sweetness too.
• Don’t leave citrus in the jug for too long. A few hours of chilling is usually enough; extended steeping can make the pith taste bitter.
• Serve it cold. Chill the wine and lemonade ahead of time, then add ice to the glasses rather than the jug to avoid diluting the whole batch.

Easy variations

For a softer, lighter sangria, replace some of the lemonade with sparkling water. For extra fruitiness, add sliced peaches, strawberries or grapes. You can also swap the brandy for orange liqueur, or leave out the spirits for a gentler version.

Make the fruit-and-wine mixture ahead, then add the lemonade at the last moment. The result is a sweet, colourful jug that is ideal for sharing on a warm afternoon or alongside a relaxed meal.

Best Sweet Sangria: FAQs on Recipes, Ingredients, Sweet Red Wines and UK Supermarket Picks

1. How to make a sweet sangria?
2. What are the basic ingredients for sangria?
3. What is a good sweet red wine for sangria?
4. Which is the best sangria?
5. Which supermarket sangria is the best in the UK?

How to make a sweet sangria?

To make a sweet sangria, pour a fruity red wine into a jug and stir in a little brandy, orange juice and sugar to taste. Add sliced orange, lemon and apple, then cover and chill for at least two hours so the flavours can mingle. Just before serving, top up with chilled lemonade for sweetness and fizz, and serve over ice with some of the fruit in each glass. Start with a small amount of sugar and adjust to taste, as the fruit and lemonade will add sweetness too.

What are the basic ingredients for sangria?

The basic ingredients for sangria are wine, fresh fruit and a sweetener such as sugar or fruit juice. Classic red sangria usually includes red wine, sliced oranges and lemons, while brandy or another spirit is optional for extra depth. For a lighter, sparkling finish, add lemonade or soda water just before serving.

What is a good sweet red wine for sangria?

A good sweet red wine for sangria is fruity, smooth and low in tannins, so it blends well with the fruit and doesn’t taste overly dry. Spanish varieties such as Garnacha or Tempranillo are popular choices; for a sweeter result, look for a bottle described as fruity or off-dry, or add a little sugar or orange juice to taste. There’s no need to use an expensive wine, as the fruit and other ingredients will shape the final flavour.

Which is the best sangria?

The best sangria is the one that suits your taste, but a well-balanced version combines fruity red wine, fresh citrus, a little brandy and just enough sweetness. Choose an easy-drinking wine such as Tempranillo or Garnacha, let it chill with sliced fruit for a few hours, then add lemonade just before serving for a refreshing fizz. For a lighter or sweeter result, adjust the lemonade and sugar to taste.

Which supermarket sangria is the best in the UK?

There’s no single supermarket sangria that suits everyone, but the best choice is usually a chilled red sangria made with fruity wine and real fruit flavours, rather than one that tastes overly sweet or syrupy. Compare the labels for sweetness, alcohol content and ingredients, and try options from supermarkets such as M&S, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose to find your favourite. For an easy upgrade, serve it well chilled over ice with slices of orange and a splash of lemonade.