This easy Christmas sangria is filled with citrus, pomegranate, pear, and cinnamon for one irresistible holiday cocktail! You’ll be the star of the holiday party with this easy cocktail recipe!
No holiday is complete without a delicious sangria, in my humble opinion. I made this recipe last year for a Women’s Christmas Event and y’all, I literally tripled the recipe and it was gone in 30 minutes! No joke! So needless to say, everyone will love it!
With the holidays just around the corner and lots of fun parties to attend I thought I’d give you a recipe you can be proud of so let’s say cheers, clink our glasses, and get started!
Why You’ll Love This Christmas Sangria Recipe
- Easy. One of the best things about sangrias is how easy they are to make. Just add everything to a pitcher, stir and chill.
- Flavorful. All of the fresh fruit in this sangria adds tons of flavor! When combined with red wine, brandy and Grand Marnier the end result is totally delicious.
- Festive. This simple cocktail is ultra festive thanks to all the colors.
Love sangria? Then you’ll love my White Wine Sangria and my classic Red Wine Sangria!
What is Sangria?
Sangria is an alcoholic wine drink that is originally from Spain. It is traditionally made with red wine, chopped up fruits, fresh citrus and brandy or sometimes orange juice. Some versions are made with sparkling water, ginger ale and/or sweeteners.
What You’ll Need
Here’s a quick overview of the ingredients you’ll need to make this holiday sangria. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for specific amounts.
- Red Wine: Use a dry red wine, like a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Tempranillo. You don’t need to splurge because this wine will be infused with other flavors.
- Brandy: This is the most common liquor added to Sangria.
- Grand Marnier: I like to add grand marnier, it’s a combination of brandy and triple sec which gives it an orange flavor. Perfect for sangria.
- Agave: Adds a little bit of sweetness to the sangria, can be omitted if you like.
- Fresh Chopped Fruit: Typically you will see oranges and limes in sangria, in this recipe I used oranges, limes, fresh pear and pomegranate seeds for a holiday twist.
- Cinnamon Sticks: What’s a holiday sangria without a little cinnamon, these cinnamon sticks will give the sangria a spiced tummy warming flavor that everyone will love.
- Ginger Ale or Sparkling Water: A little bit of effervescence never hurt any one. The addition of ginger ale or sparkling water will give your sangria that edge on all the rest to make it stand out! Make sure you add this right before serving, not overnight!
The Best Red Wine for Sangria
Cabernet Sauvignon is the bigger better wine to use with Sangria. It has notes of black currant, blackberry, and sometimes cocoa or coffee. If you light a lighter more fruit-forward sangria I’d use Pinot Noir. Or if you really want to go for it and change it up you could use Rosé or a Sauvignon Blanc.
Helpful Tools for Your Home Bar
How to Make Christmas Sangria
This easy holiday sangria comes together in a few simple steps. Here’s how to make it:
- Combine fruit, agave, liquor, and spices. To a large pitcher add agave nectar, Grand Marnier, Brandy, orange slices, lime slices, pear slices, pomegranate seeds and cinnamon sticks.
- Add wine. Next, pour one bottle of red wine into the pitcher. Stir to combine.
- Chill. Cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for 1-2 hours. (the longer it sits the better it will taste) I highly recommend overnight for maximum flavor.
- Add some fizz. Right before you are about to serve sangria, top it with ginger ale and give a quick stir.
- Pour over ice or serve chilled. Garnish with fresh limes and oranges.
How Long Should I Let the Fruit Soak?
Honestly, the longer the better. I’d say the least amount of time would be 1 to 2 hours. However, for a sangria recipe with maximum flavor, I’d highly recommend soaking your fruit for 8 to 10 hours or overnight!
Can I Make This Ahead?
Yes, in fact you really should. As written the recipe is made the day before and then the sangria steeps overnight. All the flavors get nice and cozy together during this resting time. As a result, you can taste all the flavors – the hint of cinnamon, the citrus, and sweetness from the pear. They truly become one! Topping it with the bubbles from ginger ale is the cherry on top!
I can’t wait to see what you guys think of this one. Honestly, it’s my best cocktail yet! Hope you enjoy! Bon Appetite my friends, or should I say Cheers!
More Holiday Cocktail Recipes
Christmas Holiday Sangria
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 2 hours 5 mins
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Fridge
- Cuisine: Spanish
Description
The Ultimate Holiday Sangria is filled with citrus, pomegranate, pear and cinnamon for one irresistible cocktail! Find out my secret method to making the BEST sangria.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons agave nectar
- 1/4 cup grand marnier
- 1/4 cup brandy
- 1 orange, halved and then sliced
- 1 lime, sliced
- 1 pear, sliced
- 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
- 2 sticks of cinnamon
- 1 bottle of dry red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon)
- 3/4 cup ginger ale
Instructions
- To a large pitcher add agave nectar, grand marnier, brandy, orange, lime, pear, pomegranate seeds, cinnamon sticks. Stir to combine.
- Pour in the entire bottle of red wine.
- Cover and place in refrigerator for 1-2 hours. (the longer it sits the better it will taste)
- Right before you are about to serve add the ginger ale to the sangria mixture.
- Pour over ice or serve chilled.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 oz
- Calories: 278
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 13 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
53 comments on “Christmas Holiday Sangria”
Can you omit brandy and double the grand Marnier? Wondering if I can avoid buying a bottle of brandy or not. Thanks!
I would omit the brandy.
Hi. Can i omit the brandy?? I want to use just wine as the alcohol?
Yes, you can omit it.
This Came out SOOO good. I had to altar it a bit because of what I had on hand. I used an apple instead of pear. Turbinado syrup instead of agave and it still wasnāt sweet enough so I added the luxardo cherry syrup from the container of cherries. And I added an oz of ginger beer and an oz of sprite. So delicious!
So glad you enjoyed this recipe! It is my go-to all year round because you can adjust the fruit to whatever is in season!
Hi, Do you think i could pour champagne/ sparkling wine instead of the ginger beer?
This recipe calls for ginger ale, not ginger beer. I have never tried adding sparkling wine to this recipe.
How much does this recipe serve? Trying to figure out if I should double for a party of 10 people.
The recipe yields 6 servings; I always double it because it goes super fast!
My friends still talk about this recipe I made for Friendsgiving… it was a huge hit, everyone was toasty since it’s quite boozy, yet delicious and easy to drink. I added cloves as well and let it sit overnight. Nedless to say, there was none left!
This is music to my ears! So glad it was a hit for Friendsgiving!
This sangria is party tested now twice and people LOVE it. I made it with both red and with white wine (pino grigio). I have made it with pomegranate seeds and with cranberries instead. It is just so good. I substituted a simple syrup for agave (1/4 sugar boiled in 1/4 cup water per bottle of wine) which worked well for me since we don’t ever have that around.
Thank you for the 5-star review, Paula! A new party staple!
Hi! What did you garnish this with? I love the greenery! Also! Love the cups! Have the same ones from sur canāt wait to try out this delicious cocktail for our first married holiday party
I garnish with an orange wedge, rosemary, and a cinnamon stick! These are my go-to sangria glasses!
What size bottle of wine do you use?
A standard 750ml bottle š
I want to make a bigger batch of this recipe for an event. Any suggestions?
Hey Lynn, just double or triple the recipe it will still turn out the same. It’s what I’ve done. I just the ginger ale at the end.
This looks awesome! Love all your sangria glasses-do you know where they are from?
I believe these are from sur la table š
I plan on trying either this recipe, the cranberry sangria recipe or the pomegranate mimosas for a holiday dinner party this Friday. I know some of the posts are older but I love all 3 glasses!! Any idea where you got them?
Thanks a bunch!
I got them at sur la table, it’s their staple brand so they still should be there
Can you let the fruit wine mixture sit overnight before serving?
YES!
yes, absolutely! It’s actually better that way!
Great recipe for the holidays.
Thanks Bobbi!
Have you tried this exact recipe with a white wine as well? It sounds divine!
I have not, but you know what it would probably be just as good! š All the flavors would work with white wine.
We are red fans in our house too. This is my type of sangria since I don’t have to wait for the flavors to blend…I don’t have any patience for that.
haha… true but it tastes so much better when it does blend! YUMMY!
Although my true obsession lies with beer (obvi), I can never turn down a good sangria…and I prefer red wine sangrias too! This sangria just looks like Christmas, and I’m obsessed with it! Pinned!
I should have named this Christmas in a Cup…. hehe. š
What a festive drink! I’m no mixologist either, but I know what I like–and I think I would love this drink! Can’t wait to try this season!
Amen to that Michelle… we might not be mixologist but we can always drink up! š
Hello, happy hour! Love the wintery spin on this
haha… Thanks Maris!
This looks so good! I need to sneak some into my in-laws house inside a coffee mug or something this Thanksgiving. There super… I dunno… but anyway, this could definitely save Thanksgiving for me!
bahahaha… thats awesome!!!! I like you even more now Rachel!
Not only is this sangria gorgeous, Krista, it looks like the perfect thing to sip while preparing Thanksgiving dinner!
Oh thanks so much melanie! You are too sweet!
These pictures are so divine!!! This looks wonderful, right up my alley!!
haha.. hurray! Becky approved!!! š
When we lived in Cali we got such an education about wine that now people say we are snobs. Maybe just a little….. But I can tell you that I could drink the whole pitcher of this!
haha… I know right! People say the same thing about me and I know NOTHING about wine or at least thats what I think. š If you like wine then you will LOVE this!
I can’t wait to try this for my Holiday gathering!
Hurray Jackie! You’re going to love it!
You photographed this so well I could almost taste it. I love me some sangria. THANKS fro sharing:)
Ohh.. thanks so much Laina!
How long will leftovers stay good?
I’d say 2 days… but the fruit will start absorbing the liquid so just be aware of that.