Sangria (Spanish: sangría; meaning “bloodletting”) is a wine punch typical of Spain. It normally consists of:

  • a light, dry, young, acidic, unoaked, inexpensive fruit-forward red wine, usually from the province of Rioja in Spain and of the Tempranillo or Grenache varieties; other reds that work well include French wines such as Gamay or Beaujolais, and Italian wines such as Grignolino, Bardolino, Dolcetto, Freisa, or Lambrusco.
  • chopped or sliced fruit (often orange, lemon, apple, peach, berries, pineapple; occasionally melon, grape, or mango)
  • a sweetener such as honey, sugar, simple syrup, orange juice, and/or fruit nectar
  • a small amount of added brandy, triple sec, or other spirits
  • and ice and carbonated soda, in some recipes