Easy Sangria
Make easy homemade sangria with fresh fruits, red wine, and natural sweeteners. Perfect for entertaining without excess sugar.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle (750 ml) dry red wine, such as Tempranillo or Grenache
- 2 cups fresh orange juice, no sugar added
- 1/4 cup brandy or cognac
- 2 tablespoons raw honey or pure maple syrup
- 1 large navel orange, sliced into thin rounds
- 1 large red apple, cored and cut into thin wedges
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 1 medium lemon, sliced into thin rounds
- 1 cinnamon stick, about 3 inches long
- 3 whole cloves
- 2 cups sparkling water or club soda, chilled
- 6-8 fresh mint leaves, gently bruised
- Ice cubes for serving
Instructions
- 1
Pour the red wine into a large glass pitcher or punch bowl.
- 2
Add the fresh orange juice and brandy to the wine, stirring gently to combine.
- 3
Stir in the honey or maple syrup until fully dissolved into the liquid.
- 4
Arrange the orange slices, apple wedges, strawberries, blueberries, and lemon slices into the pitcher with the wine mixture.
- 5
Add the cinnamon stick and whole cloves to infuse warm spice notes throughout the sangria.
- 6
Insert the bruised mint leaves gently into the pitcher for a fresh herbal aroma.
- 7
Cover the pitcher with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to meld.
- 8
Just before serving, stir the sangria gently to distribute the fruits and spices evenly.
- 9
Pour the chilled sparkling water into the pitcher and stir to combine, about 30 seconds.
- 10
Fill serving glasses with ice cubes.
- 11
Ladle the sangria into each glass, making sure to include some fruit slices in every serving.
- 12
Garnish each glass with a fresh mint sprig or an additional orange slice if desired.
Variations & Substitutions
| Ingredient | Substitute | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| dry red wine | dry rosé wine | Provides a lighter, more delicate flavor profile while maintaining the festive appearance and maintaining moderate alcohol content |
| honey or maple syrup | monk fruit sweetener or stevia (1-2 teaspoons) | Reduces natural sugar content significantly while maintaining sweetness, resulting in minimal blood sugar impact |
| fresh orange juice | unsweetened pomegranate juice (1 cup) plus 1 cup vegetable or fruit broth | Lower natural sugar content than straight orange juice while adding antioxidants and deeper color complexity |
| brandy or cognac | fresh orange liqueur like Cointreau or omit entirely | Orange liqueur provides bright citrus notes that complement the fruit, while omitting reduces alcohol content for a lighter version |
| sparkling water or club soda | unsweetened sparkling white tea, chilled | Adds gentle tannins and subtle flavor depth while providing additional antioxidant benefits without added sugar |
| red apple | fresh pear, cored and sliced | Pears offer a slightly sweeter taste with less acidity and add textural variety while remaining naturally lower in glycemic load than some alternatives |
Recommended Equipment
Tools that make this recipe easier
Nutrition Information
Per serving (serves 8)
| Calories | 118 |
| Total Fat | 0g |
| Saturated Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Sodium | 8mg |
| Carbohydrates | 12g |
| Fiber | 2g |
| Sugar | 8g |
| Protein | 1g |
This recipe was extracted from the original video source using AI. Nutritional information is estimated and may vary. Not a substitute for professional dietary advice. As an Amazon Associate, AlmostChefs earns from qualifying purchases. Product links are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra but help support the site. Read full disclaimer
