The classic recipe for how to make sangria calls for red wine, fruit, brandy and club soda, but there are now many other acceptable ingredients for a sangria wine recipe, including white wine, champagne, and various fruits and herbs. To make the best sangria, choose a red wine you enjoy as the base ingredient and build off of that with fruit accents you enjoy.

Sangria was first created by the Spanish in the 1700s. It was made from a blend of red wines (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc) mixed together into what is referred to as a Bordeaux or claret. This red wine blend was mixed together with brandy and fruit and served chilled over ice in clear wine glasses designed to show off its lovely color.

Sangria gained popularity in the United States after its introduction at the 1964 World’s Fair. It is the perfect beverage for a summer party. You will want to invest in a pretty sangria pitcher and a set of sangria glasses for serving this beautiful, ruby red drink.

Fruit Sangria Recipe
Cut up one orange, one lemon, one lime, one apple and one peach into large sections. Place fruit in a sangria pitcher. Add one bottle of your favorite red wine and one half cup of each of the following: brandy, triple sec and simple syrup. You can make your own simple syrup suitable for this recipe by heating four parts sugar to one part water until sugar has dissolved and mixture has turned into syrup. Chill sangria in refrigerator (covered) overnight. Add six ounces of club soda and plenty of ice cubes just before serving.

Spicy Sangria Recipe
Cut up one orange, one lemon and one lime and place in sangria pitcher. Add one bottle of your favorite red wine and one cup of orange juice. Pour in two cups of brandy.  Add one cinnamon stick and one dozen whole cloves. Chill (covered) in refrigerator overnight. Add eight ounces of lemon lime soda and a generous amount of ice cubes before serving.