About this recipe

A classic, crowd-pleasing Spanish-style summer sangria bursting with fresh fruit, bold red wine, and a splash of brandy. This well-balanced recipe is bright, lightly sweet, and deeply refreshing — perfect for backyard gatherings, patio parties, or lazy summer afternoons. It comes together in minutes and gets better the longer it sits, making it the ideal make-ahead party drink.

Instructions

1. 1

   In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar and orange juice. Stir vigorously for about 1 minute until the sugar is fully dissolved.

2. 2

   Add the brandy and orange liqueur to the mixing bowl and stir to combine.

3. 3

   Pour in the entire bottle of dry red wine and stir gently to bring everything together.

4. 4

   Add the sliced orange half-moons, lemon rounds, and lime rounds to the mixing bowl. Add the halved strawberries and sliced peaches. Gently stir so all the fruit is submerged and coated in the wine mixture.

5. 5

   Cover the mixing bowl tightly with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, and up to 24 hours. The longer it sits, the more the fruit infuses the wine and the flavors meld together. 4–8 hours is the sweet spot.

6. 6

   When ready to serve, give the sangria a gentle stir. Pour in the chilled club soda and stir once more to combine — do this at the last moment to preserve the fizz.

7. 7

   Fill glasses generously with ice. Ladle or pour the sangria over the ice, making sure each glass gets a good scoop of the soaked fruit. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig if desired and serve immediately.