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I am asked frequently about sangria recipes. Though the great thing about this drink is that about anything goes when it comes to recipes and flavors, wine drinkers still seem to overthink what makes a great recipe.

Truly all that you need are one or two fruits, a sweetener and bottle of your favourite wine.

Yes, Sangria can be comprised of many alternative ingredients, but the prime ingredient, of course is wine. Red wine is characteristic, but there are many versions and recipes of white wine sangria, too.

Let’s go over each one of the ingredients and share a few tips for better Sangria.

But the best tip of all is to know that anything goes. Don’t overthink, just make what you like and you’ll be fine!

Let’s begin with the wine:

Since you are mixing this wine with other stuff to make your drink, use a relatively cheap bottle. Say around $10 or so. Yes, there are less price bottles, but usually wine under $10 is iffy in taste at the very best.

I’d encourage you not to use costlier wine. The subtle flavours and aromas of more expensive wine will be lost in mixing. So effectively, the $12 red wine you have with pizza on Tuesday night will work great.

If you’re a traditionalist and you want to be authentic, Spanish red wines, called Rioja are what are most employed in Sangria. But in truth, about any red will do.

Other Alcohol can be used:

I actually like sangria in its most natural form, which is a red wine and some fruit. But I also believe there are numerous Sangrias for different moods or occasions. For instance feeling a little festive? How about adding some Triple-Sec.

Triple-Sec is a generic name for any orange flavoured liqueur. Some of the hottest brand names are Cointreau or Grand Marnier. Regard it as flavour with a little zip.

Feeling a little formal? How about adding some brandy? Brand is simply wine that’s distilled. So you get more wine flavor but with a little kick, also.

Cognac is a well known brandy that comes from the Cognac region in France. Since this is generally pretty costly, probably no necessity to use it here. Any normal version of brandy from your wine store will do.

Next add the fruit

Here’s where Sangria becomes poetry! Here is where your talent comes out. You can actually chuck in about any fruit you have about and you can doubtless be fine.

But the normal fruit is citrus, something similar to oranges, lemons and/or limes cut into thin slices.

Other fruits like apples or pears work well, too.

Just add what you like and you will be fine.

Now add the Sweetener:

Sangria should be sweeter than a traditional wine. Most people use sugar, but honey is frequently used. The sugar or honey simply brings out the flavours and makes the Sangria easier to drink.

Here is a tip. Your regular table sugar will be Ok to use, but ensure that it has melted before serving.

One simple way around this is by using crushed sugar or the best solution is to make straightforward syrup. Take a pan and add equal proportions sugar and water and heat till the sugar is dissolved. Cool blend and add to the pitcher. Problem worked out.

Now that you know some of the basics, the fun is in experimenting with different variations of Sangria. You can try masses of different combinations.

So if all else fails, remember, it is just grape juice!

So enjoy and cheers!

Mark is the owner of amber crest winery, a pro winemaker, a writer and frequent speaker on wine. He teaches wine courses all though the U. S.. This is an excerpt about ingredients sangria from his Really Fun Sangria Book

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The important day is getting near. Folk coming over. Your party could be the social event of the year. IF….if you serve the right drinks!

OK, it does not take Sherlock Houses to understand that. So what do you do? Well of course you serve Sangria!

Well all right then, what's thebest party sangria you ask? Let me help you out a bit. Here’s all that you do to be a sangria party star.

What to Serve

If you're having only a few folk over, say 6 or less, I would stick with one sort of sangria.

A typical batch of sangria using one bottle of wine with other ingredients will be about 36 ounces. Enough for 6, 6 oz glasses.

But dependent on your group, you can doubtless need more, so be prepared to double the batch. A rough rule to be safe is to figure on 1 bottle of wine and other ingredients per 4 folks.

If you've got more folks it could be fun to make maybe a batch without liqueur and perhaps a batch with for the more adventurous of the group.

Since many people would prefer red wines and some like whites, perhaps you could make a bunch of red and a load of white. Again, this is a part of the party where you can be fully creative.

Best Party Sangria

These are some fantastic recipes

The simplest way to Make it

All of my recipes are for one bottle of wine. Its easy to scale up by augmenting the quantities of your ingredients.

Click here to see more Sangria Recipes

Remember one of the benefits of sangria is that's can be made well in advance so you can focus on other areas of the party.

Often when I'm making Sangria for a party, I start with fruits that are in season and then base the Sangria recipe around that.

For example, I like mulled or warmed sangria and it’s perfect for the holidays. But in the dead of summer I like a white refreshing sangria.

But if you really like a certain flavor, forget about the time of the year and have at it!

Ways to Serve It

Remember that large ole punch bowl that Uncle John and Aunt Susie gave you for your marriage that's burried back in your cupboard? Time to pull it out. Yea, the ladle, too.

If Uncle John and Aunt Susie forgot about you on the day, be imaginative. What about that big spaghetti pot?

If you don't have anything, don’t sweat, just fill the glasses and set them on the table. But whatever you do, it'll turn out great.

What to Name It

Here is a fun concept! How about naming your Sangria? What??? OK, here’s what I'm trying to say. Everybody likes to be recognized, correct?

What if your buddy Bob just got engaged? Why not name the sangria something similar to Big Bob Sangria and put a small name card in front of the sangria.

Folks will get a kick out of something similar to a named sangria. Or what about after your favorite sports team. Or what about after something hilarious someone in you group did?

The opportunities are unlimited. These are only some simple thoughts and tips to get you started. But don't fear. Whatever you do will be fine.

I hope you like your sangria at your next party!

Mark is the former owner of Amber Crest Winery, a pro winemaker, author and frequent speaker on wine. He currently teaches wine classes throughout the United States. In his recent book he includes more info on his best party sangria and holiday sangria

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Margaret River Winery Tour with Palandri

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Here’s a query I often receive from my wine courses and its easy to answer. Here goes.

I’m having some guests over and would like to know how much wine for a partyand what varieties do I serve? That’s actually a very popular question. So here is a rule of thumb.

Each bottle has about 24 ounces or about 5, 5 ounce glasses, or 6 4 oz or 24, 1 ounce. I’ll stop here, you get the point. If it’s like some families I have met, that means a bottle or two per individual

But in reality for the civilized crowd that you are without doubt referring, I’d suggest figuring on 2, 5 ounce glasses per individual. That is come down to 1 bottle per 2 people.

Some will drink more, some less. In the event you underestimate a bit I’d also keep 1 or 2 bottles in reserve, if you don’t drink them at your party you can drink it another time. You could also use creative packaging and give any remaining bottles to your visitors as party favors or prizes.

Because wine tastes are absolutely different, I would suggest keeping the selections of wine easy. You might have 100 different wines and there would always be somebody who would ask for something else.

Here’s the simplest way on what varieties to serve. Have something customary like Chardonnay and Merlot for the more traditional folks and then something less customary for the more daring in the group.

The more daring may prefer heavier and spicier wines like Shiraz or Zinfandel. Wines that people have not had or heard of are often a big hit, too. Try something similar to a Gewurtztraminer or Viognier. All and all, the best guidance is to keep it simplistic and serve whatever you are most comfortable offereing. Remember it is a party, not a wine review.

I’d also always presume there’ll always be guests who are fairly new to wine or don’t care for the more standard wines. Their tastes are customarily sweeter and lighter. A light wine like white zinfandel or a flavored wine like strawberry, green apple or raspberry will do the job. This way there are a few things for everybody to drink.

If that does not work offer them a Budweiser!

How much wine isn’t such a troublesome question is it?

Whatever you do will be fine. Remember, it’s just grape juice.

Mark is a professional winemaker, former winery owner, author and frequent speaker on wine. He helps people find out learn about wine through his wine classes and video wine courses.

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