Sangria is a popular and refreshing wine-based cocktail, popular for drinking during summer since it’s very fruity and refreshing.
In this review, we will tell you all about the best wines to use when making sangria, plus some other insights – and a fantastic simple sangria recipe!
In a Nutshell – What Is Sangria And How Do You Make It??
Sangria is a popular and refreshing beverage that originated in Spain but is now popular all around the world. It’s a wine-based drink typically made with red wine (but not only!), chopped fruits, sweeteners, and additional spirits or liqueurs.
One of the great aspects of sangria is its versatility. You can customize your sangria recipe to suit your taste. Adjust the sweetness by adding more or less sweetener, experimenting with different fruit combinations, or even incorporating herbs and spices like mint, basil, or cinnamon for added complexity.
Choosing the Best Wine for Sangria
When choosing the best wine for sangria, consider the five following factors to ensure a delicious and balanced drink:
Wine Type: Red, white, or rosé wine can be used for sangria, and each imparts a different flavor profile. Choose a wine that suits your taste preferences and the desired flavor profile of the sangria.
Quality: While sangria is often made with affordable or moderately priced wines, using a decent quality wine will enhance the overall taste. Look for a wine that you enjoy drinking on its own and has good balance and flavor.
Dry or Semi-Dry: Opt for a dry or semi-dry wine rather than a sweet or dessert wine. The sweetness in sangria comes from the addition of fruits and sweeteners, so a dry or semi-dry wine will help balance the flavors.
Flavor Profile: Consider the flavor notes of the wine and how they will blend with the other ingredients in the sangria. For example, red wines may have berry, cherry, or earthy notes, while white wines can offer citrus, melon, or tropical fruit flavors.
Price: As sangria cocktails often require a larger quantity of wine, it may be more cost-effective to choose a moderately priced bottle. However, avoid extremely cheap wines, as they may lack the desired taste and quality.
Best Red Wine For Sangria
There are numerous other red wines that can work well in sangria. It’s important to find a wine that suits your personal taste preferences and pairs well with the fruits and other ingredients you plan to include. It’s best to choose red wine that is fruity, medium-bodied, and offers good acidity. Some good options are:
Tempranillo
This classic wine from Spain is the best classic choice for red sangria. It has notes of red berries, cherries, and a pleasant earthiness that pairs well with the fruits and flavors in sangria.
Rioja
Another Spanish wine, Rioja, is typically made from Tempranillo grapes. It offers a good balance of fruitiness, earthiness, and a touch of oak. Rioja Reserva or Gran Reserva wines can provide added complexity.
When making sangria with Rioja, you can add a variety of fruits to enhance the flavor and visual appeal – Oranges and orange juice, lemon, berries, and even pomegranate seeds.
Malbec
Malbec can be a suitable red wine choice for sangria, especially if you prefer a bolder and fruit-forward profile. Malbec wines are known for their dark fruit flavors, such as blackberry, plum, and black cherry, along with moderate tannins and good acidity. These characteristics can work well in sangria, adding depth and richness to the overall flavor profile.
When using Malbec for sangria, you can expect a deeper color and robust flavor compared to lighter-bodied red wines. It pairs nicely with fruits like blackberries, blueberries, and dark cherries.
Red Garnacha (Grenache)
This red wine varietal is known for its fruity character, with flavors of strawberries, raspberries, and sometimes a hint of spice. It adds a vibrant and juicy element to sangria.
Is Pinot Noir Good For Sangria Recipe?
While Pinot Noir is a delicious and versatile red wine, it is not typically the first choice for traditional sangria recipes. Pinot Noir is known for its delicate and nuanced flavors, which may get overshadowed or diluted when used in sangria with a combination of fruits, sweeteners, and other ingredients.
Best White Wine for Sangria
When it comes to white wine for sangria, you’ll want to choose a wine that is light, crisp, and refreshing. Some good options are:
Garnacha Blanc
Garnacha Blanc, also known as Grenache Blanc, can be an excellent choice for white sangria. Garnacha Blanc typically offers vibrant flavors of stone fruits like peach, apricot, and nectarine. It can also have citrus notes and a pleasant herbal character. These flavors contribute to a refreshing and fruity sangria.
When using Garnacha Blanc in your white sangria, consider pairing it with complementary fruits such as peaches, apricots, citrus slices, or tropical fruits like pineapple or mango. You can also enhance the flavors with fresh herbs like mint or basil.
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is known for its vibrant acidity, citrus flavors, and herbal notes. It brings a zesty and refreshing character to white sangria.
When making Sauvignon Blanc sangria, you can incorporate a variety of fruits and other ingredients – like lemon, Raspberries, fresh strawberries, stone fruits, and Fresh herbs like mint or basil – to complement the wine’s vibrant acidity and citrus flavors.
Albariño
Albariño is a white wine from Spain that offers crisp acidity, citrus flavors, and a subtle mineral character. It pairs well with citrus fruits and can add a bright and lively element to your sangria.
Best Rosé Wine For Rosé Sangria
When choosing a rosé wine for sangria, you’ll want to select one that is fruit-forward, refreshing, and has good acidity. Here are some suggestions:
Provence Rosé
Provence in France is renowned for producing delicate and dry rosé wines. These rosés are typically light in color and offer flavors of fresh red berries, citrus, and floral notes. They provide an elegant and crisp base for your sangria.
Spanish Rosado
Spain produces a wide range of rosé wines known as Rosado. Look for ones made from Tempranillo, Garnacha, or Cinsault grapes.
Spanish Rosado wines often have bright acidity, strawberry flavors, and a touch of spice, making them a great choice for sangria.
Best Sparkling Wine For Summer Sangria
When it comes to choosing a sparkling wine for summer sangria, you’ll want to select one that is refreshing, light, and has a good level of acidity. Here are some suggestions:
Prosecco
Prosecco is an Italian sparkling wine that is known for its crispness and fruity flavors. It has a vibrant effervescence and typically offers notes of green apple, pear, and citrus. Prosecco adds a refreshing and lively element to your summer sangria.
Cava
Cava is a sparkling wine from Spain that is made using the traditional method, similar to Champagne. It often exhibits flavors of green apple, lemon, and almond, with a fine mousse and a refreshing acidity. Cava brings a touch of elegance and brightness to your summer sangria.
When making sparkling wine sangria, consider adding seasonal fruits such as berries, citrus slices, or even tropical fruits like pineapple, passion fruit, or mango. You can also incorporate fresh herbs like mint or basil for added freshness.
Remember to keep the sparkling wine chilled and add it just before serving to maintain its effervescence.
Wines You Shouldn’t Use to Make Sangria
While there is flexibility in choosing wines for sangria based on personal taste, there are certain types of wines that are generally not recommended for making traditional sangria.
For example, using very expensive or fine wines for sangria can be wasteful as the flavors of the wine can be altered and masked by the other ingredients in your sangria recipe. It’s best to save those wines for enjoying on their own.
Another example is heavy, tannic Red Wine. Wines with high tannin levels or heavy oak influence -like Cabernet Sauvignon – may not work well in sangria. These wines can become overpowering or bitter when mixed with fruits, sweeteners, and other ingredients.
Lastly, we recommend not using aged Wines like aged Barolo or vintage Port. Sangria is meant to be a refreshing and fruit-forward drink. However, aged wines, which have developed complex flavors through long maturation, may not be the best choice as the sangria-making process can diminish their distinct characteristics.
An Easy Res Wine Sangria Recipe Everyone Will Love – The Best Go-To Cocktail!
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle of red wine (such as a fruity and medium-bodied red like Merlot or Rioja)
- 1 cup of fresh orange juice
- 1/4 cup of Quantro or other orange liqueur
- 1/4 cup of simple syrup
- Assorted fresh fruit selection – oranges slices, limes, apples, grapes, and various berries)
- Sparkling water or soda water (optional for added fizz)
Instructions:
- Combine the red wine, orange juice, liqueur, and simple syrup in a large pitcher. Stir well to mix the ingredients together.
- Add the fruits to the pitcher, reserving some for garnish. Stir gently to incorporate the fruits into the sangria mixture.
- Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight to allow the flavors to meld together and the fruits to infuse the sangria.
- Just before serving, give the sangria a good stir. If desired, add a can of sparkling water or soda water for some fizziness.
- Pour the sangria into glasses filled with ice. Garnish each glass with a slice of fruit.
- Serve and enjoy your sangria alone or with friends!
Final Editors’ Note
Remember to chill the sangria before serving, allowing the flavors to meld together. Feel free to adjust the quantities of fruits and other ingredients based on your personal taste preferences. Remember, your goal is to create a refreshing and well-balanced sangria that highlights the characteristics of the wine you use. Cheers to your delicious creation!
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