Brandy’s Red Sangria Recipe

A Red Sangria Recipe is a classic party punch that you really must know how to make. Everyone I know loves a good sangria and this recipe is always the first one to disappear at parties.

You can make this with different fruit based on what’s in season, just use my method for the perfect red sangria!

If I’m being honest, I’m not a red wine drinker, which is why I have so many white sangria and vodka party punch recipes on this website. However, 99% of my friends love a good red wine, so I’ve always needed a red sangria in my recipe box.

This is actually a recipe from one of my best friends, Brandy. (In case you were wondering, she’s the wife of Elmer, the man behind the brown sugar pecan pie.) She makes this recipe at every party and it’s widely requested.

Even I like her red sangria, even though I don’t like red wine!

What is Sangria made of?

Sangria is a cocktail that’s mixed with:

• Wine
• Alcohol (either rum or brandy)
• Sugar
• Fruit

Left to soak for a few hours before drinking, the flavor intensifies as it sits.

Sangria originated in Spain and traditionally it was made with red wine. Modern versions use white wine or champagne as well as flavors (like Margarita Sangria).

Sangria is such an easy party punch recipe, whether you make it red or white.

What makes Brandy’s Red Sangria special?

This isn’t just any old sangria recipe where you mix brandy and wine and fruit. No, my friend Brandy has a special way to sweeten her sangria: she uses fruit infused simple syrup.

Sangria is usually sweetened, either with granulated sugar or simple syrup. Simple syrup is just sugar and water cooked until the sugar has dissolved, then allowed to cool.

Using simple syrup in place of sugar means you don’t have to worry about the sugar dissolving (in cold liquid, like lemonade or wine, sugar doesn’t dissolve as easily as in hot drinks).

Brandy’s method for making her simple syrup is to cook her fruit with the sugar and water, making a fruity simple syrup. This adds tons of extra fruit flavor into the sangria, besides just soaking with the fruit.

What kind of fruit should you use in sangria?

The beauty of sangria is that you can use whatever fruit that’s in season. Traditional red sangria fruits are:

• Mixed Berries
• Stone fruits, like peaches or plums
• Apples
• Citrus fruit, like orange or lemon

What alcohol is best in Sangria?

There are two major kinds of alcohol seen in sangria recipes:

1. Rum
2. Brandy

Traditionally, white wine sangria is made with rum and red is made with brandy, but you can also make red wine sangria with rum if you prefer.

I’ve also seen sangria recipes with vodka, but that’s usually when it’s a fun flavor, like my friend Lisa’s Caramel Apple Sangria.

I personally think that the combination of brandy with red wine and fruit is the perfect combination!

What red wine is best for sangria?

I personally think that sangria is best made with a wine you enjoy drinking. However, it is a good excuse to use up a bottle of not-so-great (or cheap) wine. The added flavor of brandy, sugar and fruit will make any wine taste even better!

I’ve read that the most popular wines for red sangria are:

• Zinfandel (what Brandy uses)
• Merlot
• Pinot Noir
• Cabernet Sauvignon

I recommend using a mid-priced to lower end wine. You don’t want to use one of your expensive California Cabs for sangria!

How far in advance can you make sangria?

I recommend giving sangria at least 8 hours to soak but you can make it up to 24 hours ahead.

How long does sangria last?

It depends on the fruits you’re using. Berries will dissolve and spoil faster than stone fruit, apple or citrus. I’d say it will last a couple of days in the refrigerator, covered.

Other party punch recipes:

• Tropical Sangria
• Orange Party Punch
• Fruity Vodka Party Punch
• Prosecco Sangria
• All of my cocktail recipes!

Serve this sangria with:

• Pepperoni Pinwheels
• Charcuterie Board
• Caramelized Onion Pesto Flatbread
• Apple Pecan Pie Baked Brie

Red Wine Sangria is the perfect party punch recipe. Make my special fruit simple syrup to add tons of extra flavor into the brandy and red wine mixture!