Blood Orange Sangria

This Blood Orange Sangria is full of bold citrus flavor and the perfect drink to make during the winter months. The bold flavor of blood orange juice is combined with dry red wine and brandy for an unforgettable sangria that everyone will love!

Sangria isn’t just for summer!

We all know how much I love making big-batch cocktails, like bloody marys and watermelon punch and sangria no exception. It’s an easy cocktail to put together, can be made way ahead of time, and can be customized for every season!

You may think sangria is only for summertime but that's not the case! This Blood Orange Sangria recipe is made with winter fruits, red wine, and is just as refreshing as your favorite summer sangria.

It’s the perfect excuse to experiment with blood oranges and to use up that bottle of red wine that’s been on your wine rack for months.

Grab your pitcher and let’s make this festive and boldly flavored easy sangria recipe for a crowd!

What is sangria?

Sangria is a popular cocktail that originated in Portugal and Spain. It’s simple, refreshing, and easy to make. All you have to do is combine your favorite fruits with wine, juice, and brandy before letting the batch chill in the fridge for a few hours.

In the end, you’ll have a delicious fruit-infused wine drink that can be enjoyed with seafood, spicy dishes, cheese plates, or even fruity desserts.

What is the best wine for this sangria?

The best wine to use in a winter sangria recipe is a dry Spanish wine like Tempranillo. A dry red will pairs best with the citrus and the rest of the ingredients but feel free to use any red wine you love or whatever you have on hand!

Ingredients you need

Beautiful blood oranges are mixed with dry red wine and brandy in this red sangria, while a splash of simple syrup sweetens it up so each sip goes down easy. Throw in some mint for freshness and enjoy! All of these ingredients are simple and easy to find during the winter:

Blood oranges

You can find in-season blood oranges from December to April. Their signature deep red colored flesh is caused by an increase in antioxidants. They don’t taste as sweet as other oranges but do have a nice tangy taste that goes great in a gin and tonic.

The leftover orange chunks make a delicious, albeit messy, snack to enjoy once you’ve finished your glass of sangria. At that point, the texture will be a bit mushy and the flavor mostly dissolved into the wine but I understand if you want to eat them anyway because they’re so tasty!

Dry red wine

Tempranillo are black grapes that are used to make full-bodied wine in Spain. Because of its deep rich flavor, this wine pairs well with the tangy and sweet flavor from the blood oranges. Although I love this variety the best for sangria, feel free to use your favorite dry red wine from the region you love.

You can make this a white wine sangria recipe using a dry white wine instead. Add some fizz with sparkling water or club soda and enjoy!

Brandy

Brandy is often added to sangria for added flavor and aromatics. It can be left out, but I strongly suggest keeping it in the batch. No need to buy an expensive brand to make it delicious! A little bit goes a long way in this recipe.

If you really don’t enjoy the taste of brandy, feel free to swap it out for orange liqueur.

How to make blood orange sangria

Sangria is one of the easiest big batch cocktails to make. Throw it together and let it sit in the fridge until your guests arrive. It’s ready in a few easy steps:

Recipe tips and substitutions

One of the best reasons sangria makes it to the top of my list again and again is because it’s highly versatile and customizable. There are so many ways to make a delicious sangria with many different fruits, wines, flavors, and add-ins! 

For a sweeter sangria

If you or your guests like sangria on the sweeter side, add in a little more simple syrup. You can also chop up whatever other fruits you have on hand and add them in!

More substitutions

This deeply flavored citrus sangria can be customized for any time of the year. Top each glass with sparkling water or spritzer to help lighten it up or stir in fresh herbs, cranberries, and a cinnamon stick for warming festive flavors.

In the summertime, you can swap out regular oranges and squeeze in some fresh lemon juice to brighten it up!

There’s so much you can do to this recipe. Feel free to let your imagination run wild!

Making ahead of time

This sangria needs at least 2 hours to chill in the fridge before serving. This gives all of the flavors time to properly blend together. Save time by stirring all of the ingredients together in a pitcher the night before and serve the next day.

Sangria will last in the fridge for several days, although the fruit may break down a bit. No worries though - it will still taste delicious!

It's time for a drink!

Now it's time for you to make a batch of this winter citrus-packed sangria. When you do, leave a comment so I can hear what you think!