Holiday Red Wine Sangria

For pretty much the entire month of December, I see a little gift I already made myself every time I open the fridge — a whole pitcher of holiday-spiced sangria that I can enjoy whenever I want. I’m also one of those people who usually has a bottle of red wine lying around somewhere along with fresh fruit and whole spices, so mixing up a pitcher for a last-minute gathering or to bring to a party is my go-to batched cocktail for the holidays! It’s almost an un-recipe because you can dial all the elements up or down until it tastes just the way you like it. Enjoy!

Watch Me Mix It

How to Make Holiday Sangria

1. Add red wine, amaretto, apple cider, fresh-squeezed orange juice, slices of orange, apple, and pear, star anise, cinnamon sticks, and allspice into a pitcher and mix together.
2. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
3. Serve in wine glasses filled with ice and garnish with whatever festive ingredients you have on hand (star anise pods and orange slices work great!)
4. Top with soda water if you want some bubbles.

Sangria Tips

1. Choose the Right Wine: Go for fruit-forward reds like Merlot, Cabernet, or Tempranillo. I also love a Sangria with a red blend or Grenache. No need to splurge, because the spices do the heavy lifting. $10–$15 bottles shine here. Some of my favorites to get include: Jadot Beaujolais Villages, Bodegas Beronia Rioja Tempranillo, and Le Pont Bandol Provence Red Blend. If you’re bringing some wine as a gift for the host, these two feel special without being too over the top: Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel Red or Ricasoli Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione.
2. Use Whole Spices (Not Ground): To get all the holiday flavor without any ground spice grit, add whole spices. I use cinnamon sticks, star anise, and allspice, but you can experiment with whole cloves, cardamom pods, and peppercorns.
3. Sweeten to Taste: The apple cider and fruit sweetens the sangria a little, but if you want more or less sweetness, you could dial them up or down to suit your taste.
4. Bonus Flavor Boosters: For an extra Join Jules twist, add:
   • A handful of fresh cranberries
   • Splash of cranberry juice
   • Rosemary sprigs
5. Build a Garnish Bar: Set out orange wheels, star anise, cinnamon sticks, cranberries, and/or rosemary. Guests love customizing.
6. Make It Ahead: Sangria gets even better the next day, so you can also make the base and chill overnight.

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Holiday Red Wine Sangria

Time to make: 5 minutes minutes

Sangria isn't just for summer. Add some holiday spices, fruit, and garnishes and you have yourself the perfect easy holiday cocktail for a crowd.

Print Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 Bottle Red Wine, I like a red blend or Grenache
• 1/2 Cup Amaretto
• 1/2 Cup Apple Cider
• 1/4 Cup Fresh-Squeezed Orange Juice
• Orange, Apple, and Pear Slices
• Star Anise, Cinnamon, Allspice
• Optional: Top with Soda Water

Instructions

• Add all ingredients into a pitcher and mix together.
• Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
• Serve in glasses filled with ice.
• Optional: Top with soda water.

Xoxo, cheers!