The Best Red Wine Fall Sangria

A quick and simple red wine cocktail kissed with the flavours of the season, this fall sangria is a total crowd-pleaser all-year-round! You need just 7 simple ingredients and it can be ready in as little as 5 minutes if you're in a rush. And when sangria tastes this good, who isn't in a rush to drink it?!

Click here to save this red wine fall sangria on Pinterest

A glass of red wine fall sangria in front of a jug filled with more

Simpler is always better - especially when it comes to cocktails. You don't want to be following a 20-step recipe to make a 15-ingredient cocktail when you've had a few, right? And this fall sangria is beyond quick and simple.

It's is a slight variation on my easy sangria recipe, which you should totally give a go, too. The base is red wine, Cointreau (or triple sec - I'm cheap!) and lemon-lime soda. Orange slices give it a sweet citrus kick, green apple adds a tart burst and a sprinkle of cinnamon brings everything together and creates a sense of fall. That's all there is to it!

What is the best red wine for sangria?

Most people say a Spanish red is the best red wine for sangria. Since, you know, sangria is Spanish. I live in Spain, so I have ample choice. Although I always opt for a cheap bottle of red wine when making this sangria for fall. And when I say cheap, I mean really cheap. Like, €2 cheap.

When using wine in any cocktails (and even sometimes in cooking!) people say you should use a bottle you'd be happy to drink on its own. But because the only time I ever drink red wine is in sangria, in which all the other flavours really take the edge off a lesser-quality wine, I'm more than happy to go for something cheap.

So I suggest you save your pennies, but down that $12 bottle of red wine and pick up something that's on offer instead. The more you save, the more fall sangria you can make!

How do you serve sangria?

Traditionally, sangria is served in a litre sangria jug (this is pretty similar to what I use) at the table with small sangria glasses like these and a long spoon. The jug is filled with a handful of ice cubes and the fruit is left in it for people to scoop out and nibble at while drinking the sangria. Well, that's how it works around here, anyway.

For a stronger flavour, it's a good idea to leave the sangria to marinate in the fridge for an hour (or up to 24 hours) before serving. If you do, make sure you cover the top of the jug with plastic wrap so nothing else in the fridge interferes with the taste or smell. But if you're strapped for time, there's nothing wrong with whipping up a batch of fall sangria and serving it straight away.

How long do you let the fruit sit in sangria?

This one is totally up to you. If you're going to leave the sangria to marinate before you serve it, leave the fruit in for however long you're marinating it. After you've served the sangria - if no one's eating the fruit - I recommend you throw the fruit away as soon as you can. Red wine-soaked fruit sounds amazing, but it can smell a little off-putting when it's just sat there at your table.

A glass of red wine fall sangria next to a sliced orange

What kind of apples do you use for sangria?

In this fall sangria, I used Granny Smith apples, simply because they're my favourite. But after a bit of research online, most people seem to prefer using this variety in sangria, too. They add a wonderful tartness which complements the sweet flavours.

How long will homemade sangria last?

You can usually leave a bottle of red wine open for 3-5 days without the flavour being impaired. But the fruit in this fall sangria can cause the wine to go bad much quicker. Because of this, I recommend you chill your sangria in the fridge (leave it in the jug and cover it with plastic wrap) and drink it within 3 days.

Don't use cinnamon sticks

See the cinnamon stick in the photos? It's there purely for decoration. The cinnamon in this fall sangria recipe is this type of ground cinnamon which is dissolved by the juice from the orange slices. If you leave cinnamon sticks to marinate with the fruit in the sangria, they'll partially dissolve. No one wants to be sipping some delicious sangria for fall and have to spit out very strongly-tasting bits of tree bark.

Making this fall sangria healthy

I've got a few tips to help you make this fall sangria a little bit healthier by getting rid of added sugars and reducing the calories. Instead of using 1 tablespoon of sugar, use the equivalent amount in an artificial sweetener that you like. If it's a solid sweetener (like a powder or those mini pill things), treat it in the same way you would the sugar - dissolving it with the cinnamon by bashing the oranges until the juices come out. If you're not a fan of sweet drinks, you can skip the sugar or sweetener altogether!

And instead of using ordinary Sprite or 7UP, use a sugar-free, zero-calorie (or almost zero-calorie) alternative. Doing both of these will reduce each glass of red wine sangria down from 145 calories to 120 calories. I know it's not much, but every little helps when you're counting calories, right?

More sangria recipes

📖 Recipe

Close-up of a glass of red wine fall sangria with a cinnamon stick

The Best Red Wine Fall Sangria

5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Spanish
Keyword: Fall Sangria
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 6 glasses
Calories: 120kcal

Ingredients

  • ½ orange sliced
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon sugar or any artificial sweetener alternative
  • ½ apple sliced
  • 1 bottle Spanish red wine (750ml)
  • 2 oz triple sec/Cointreau
  • 1 cup 7UP/Sprite or sugar-free alternative

Instructions

  • Place the orange, cinnamon and sugar/sweetener into a large sangria jug and mash with a spoon so the juices from the fruit dissolve the spice and sugar/sweetener.
  • Stir in the apple, red wine, triple sec/Cointreau and 7UP/Sprite. Enjoy!

Notes

Assuming you get 6 glasses from the recipe, one glass of this fall sangria is 120 calories, if you use a zero-calorie sweetener instead of sugar and zero-calorie 7UP/Sprite.
If you use sugar and ordinary 7UP/Sprite, each glass is 145 calories.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 120kcal

About Nicola

I’m Nicola, the face behind Happy Healthy Motivated – your go-to guide to becoming your best you!
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    • Nicky

      Thanks so much, Katie! I'll be sure to link up as soon as I have the chance. 🙂

  1. lisa

    Oooh, delicious! Great twist on the normal sangria with these interesting additions!

    • Nicky

      Thanks so much, Lisa!

  2. Cheryl@ Sew Can Do

    Such a great idea - why should sangria just be for summer?!! Thanks for linking to Craftastic Monday at Sew Can Do:)

  3. Carrie

    I LOVE sangria...no matter what season it is! Thanks for sharing at Must Try Monday :).

    • Nicky

      You're so right, Carrie. Sangria shouldn't be restricted to summer!

  4. Evelyn @ My Turn (for us)

    I also have never met a sangria I didn't like but this looks even extra yummy:) I am pinning as I speak and making my shopping list to try this asap:) Happy Friday starts early (as soon as I return from shopping for ingredients, lol)

    Love to invite you to share this or any of your other favorite posts at Freedom Fridays Blog Hop. (no rules and live on Thusdays at 7pm mdt)

    • Nicky

      Thank you so much, Evelyn! I hope you enjoy the sangria and I'll be sure to link up later today 🙂

  5. Charlotte

    Hi! What a great recipe, looks so tasty! I have printed the recipe and will definitely being trying this. It's my birthday this month so it can be my treat 🙂

    • Nicky

      Thank you so much, Charlotte. Hope you enjoy it and happy (early) birthday!!

  6. Stacey

    Oh yeah!
    That recipe calls for a party!
    Thanks for linking up this week -
    hope to see you this week!
    Stacey of Embracing Change

  7. Michelle

    Beautiful! I love Sangria but never think to make it in the Fall. Now I will. Thanks for sharing 🙂
    Michelle

  8. lisa

    This may be a stupid question but what is mixed spice? It looks like a great drink.

    • Nicola Quinn

      Hi Lisa,
      That's not a stupid question at all! 🙂
      I think mixed spice is available widely throughout Europe but it's not as common in the US 🙂
      Mixed spice is very similar to pumpkin spice and is a blend of allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, coriander and ginger.
      Here's a recipe if you want to make your own: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/181605/mixed-spice

  9. Megan @ Our Pinteresting Family

    Looks amazing. I may have to make this when I go visit my sister in a few weeks.

  10. Joy @ The Joyful Foodie

    This sounds similar to a mulled wine I make except it's cold instead of hot. I never thought to try it cold as sangria! Such a great idea!

  11. Lois

    Thanks for joining Foodie Friends Friday! Hope to see you again next week!

  12. vicki-elliebearbabi

    I don't drink but this looks great, defo an option for those who do drink for a party or evening in with friends! gorgeous pics

  13. Kathi Riemer

    Thank you for this yummy sangria recipe...pinned!

  14. Pure Grace Farms

    Great collection of drinks here, yum! The sangria looks especially delicious. I am looking forward to seeing what fabulous post you have to share this week. Party starts Thursday at 9 pm EST. Hope to see you there.
    Blessings,
    Shari
    http://www.puregracefarms.com

  15. Laura@Baking in Pyjamas

    Sounds like a great twist on the original cocktail. Thanks for linking up to Sweet and Savoury Sunday, stop by and link up again. Have a great day!!

  16. Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co.

    I love sangria too! I prefer it over a glass of wine!

  17. Elizabeth

    Yum! I love sangria, as well, but have never made it myself! I think it may be time...

    #TheInspirationBoardCreativeParty

    Elizabeth (Plant Based Bride)

    • Nicola Quinn

      It's always time for sangria! 😀

  18. Kristy as Giftie Etcetera

    Nothing tastes better than the fruit leftover after you share the sangria!

    • Nicola Quinn

      I'm totally with you on that one, Kristy!

  19. Elsa

    I really love sangria too! I prefer it over a glass of wine 🙂

    • Nicola

      I know just what you mean, Elsa. I definitely prefer sangria to red wine! Although I can't say no to a glass of chilled rose! 😀

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