Are you on the hunt for a truly show-stopping drink to be the highlight of your next get-together? We’ve all been there, wanting something that not only delights the taste buds but also looks absolutely radiant in the glass. When we gather with our nearest and dearest, especially over the festive period, serving something memorable that fosters a joyful, celebratory mood is key. The perfect solution is simpler and more delightful than you might imagine: a generous jug of rich, jewel-hued Blood Orange Sangria Cocktail.

This is far from your average sangria. By capturing the distinctive flavour and breathtaking crimson colour of seasonal blood oranges, we transform a beloved Spanish classic into an unforgettable drink. It strikes the perfect balance between a sophisticated cocktail and an easy-to-serve party punch. It’s wonderfully vibrant, bursting with flavour, and surprisingly straightforward to put together, making it the ideal centrepiece for any event, from a quiet winter night in to a bustling Christmas party.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Visually Stunning: The magnificent ruby-red shade, courtesy of the blood oranges and red wine, is a real head-turner. It presents beautifully in a glass jug or punch bowl, looking effortlessly elegant.
• Incredibly Flavourful: We’ve carefully crafted the balance of tastes. It’s sweet without being cloying, tart without being sharp, and filled with warm, spiced notes of cinnamon and star anise that evoke the spirit of the season.
• Perfect for Parties: This is the ultimate make-ahead beverage for any gathering. You can prepare it a day in advance, allowing the flavours to deepen and marry, which means less fuss for you when your guests turn up.
• Celebrates Seasonal Produce: Blood oranges are a genuine treasure of the winter months, typically in season from December through to May. This recipe makes the very best of their limited availability, offering a unique taste you can’t enjoy year-round.
• Wonderfully Versatile: You can easily adapt this recipe to suit your preferences. Feel free to switch the spirits, introduce different fruits, or even create a fantastic alcohol-free version for all to enjoy.

Ingredients

• 1 (750 ml) bottle of dry Spanish red wine
• 120 ml brandy
• 500 ml freshly squeezed blood orange juice
• 3 blood oranges, thinly sliced
• 1 navel orange, thinly sliced
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons of maple syrup or honey
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 3 whole star anise
• 250 ml sparkling water, club soda, or prosecco, chilled
• Ice cubes, for serving
• fresh cranberries
• rosemary sprigs

The Star of the Show: The Blood Orange

What really makes this drink exceptional is the fruit it’s named after. Blood oranges are a true wonder of nature, offering a flavour profile that is quite distinct from their more common relatives. While they possess that familiar citrusy zest, they also have sweet, almost raspberry-like notes and are typically less acidic. This unique character lends a fantastic depth and complexity to our sangria that you just can’t achieve with standard oranges.

Their season is a fleeting joy during the colder months, which we feel makes them even more special. The dramatic, crimson-streaked flesh is due to anthocyanins, the same antioxidants present in berries. When sliced and steeped in the wine, they impart their spectacular colour, turning the drink into a visual delight. To find out more about this amazing fruit, we suggest exploring the BBC Good Food guide on blood oranges. We find that using them ensures our blood orange sangria is always a memorable occasion.

How to Make the Perfect Blood Orange Sangria Cocktail

Crafting this beautiful drink is a simple matter of mixing and chilling. The real magic unfolds as the ingredients are left to rest, which is why we always suggest preparing it a few hours before you plan to serve it. Follow our straightforward steps for a guaranteed triumph.

1. Combine the Liquids: In a large glass jug or punch bowl, pour in the bottle of red wine, brandy, freshly squeezed blood orange juice, and either maple syrup or honey. Give it a good stir until the sweetener is completely dissolved.
2. Add the Fruits and Spices: Gently place the slices of blood orange, navel orange, and lemon into the liquid. Drop in the cinnamon sticks and star anise. Stir gently once more to make sure all the fruit is submerged.
3. Let the Flavours Mingle (Macerate): This is the most vital step! Cover the jug and chill it in the refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours. For the very best, most integrated flavour, we wholeheartedly recommend leaving it overnight. This process, called maceration, lets the fruit soak up the wine while releasing its own delicious juices into the mixture.
4. Serve and Garnish: When you are ready to serve, remove the sangria from the fridge. Give it one last stir and top it off with the chilled sparkling water or prosecco to give it a delightful effervescence. Fill your glasses with ice, pour the sangria, and make sure each serving includes a few pieces of the wine-infused fruit. Garnish with a sprig of fresh rosemary or a scattering of cranberries for an extra festive flair.

Tips for Success and Variations

We want your Blood Orange Sangria Cocktail to turn out perfectly every single time. Here are some of our best tips and ideas for customisation to help you make this recipe your own.

Choosing the Right Wine

There’s no need to splurge on an expensive wine for sangria, but we do advise picking a bottle you would happily drink by itself. A dry, fruity Spanish red with low tannins, such as a Tempranillo or Garnacha (Grenache), is the classic option and works wonderfully here. Try to avoid heavy, oak-aged wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, as their powerful profiles can overwhelm the delicate fruit flavours.

Making It Ahead of Time

As we’ve noted, this is the perfect party drink to prepare in advance. You can make it up to 24 hours ahead and store it, covered, in the fridge. In our experience, the flavour only gets better with time! Just be sure to wait until the very last moment to add the sparkling water or prosecco. Pouring it in too early will mean it loses its lovely fizz.

Customising Your Sangria

Don’t hesitate to get creative! This recipe serves as a wonderful foundation for your own experiments.

• Switch the Spirits: If brandy isn’t to your taste, consider an orange liqueur like Cointreau or Grand Marnier to enhance the citrus notes. A spiced rum could also introduce a lovely, warming dimension.
• Add More Fruit: Sliced apples, pears, or a handful of pomegranate arils would make fantastic additions that beautifully complement the existing flavours.
• Make a Non-Alcoholic Version: To mix up a delicious mocktail, simply substitute the red wine with an equal measure of pomegranate or cranberry juice. Leave out the brandy and use sparkling grape juice or a flavoured sparkling water in place of prosecco at the end. It’s a brilliant alternative for designated drivers or guests who prefer not to consume alcohol.

What to Serve with Your Sangria

This vibrant sangria is an excellent partner for a diverse array of foods. It’s a natural choice for Spanish-inspired tapas such as patatas bravas, salty Manchego cheese, and spicy chorizo. However, its versatility reaches far beyond starters. The bright, fruity character can cut through rich, savoury meals, making it a superb choice for a dinner party main course.

For a comforting meal that still feels special, we find it pairs beautifully with the rich flavours of a Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recipe. The sangria’s acidity offers a lovely counterbalance to the creamy pasta sauce. It also works wonderfully with zesty dishes; the citrus notes in the sangria echo and elevate the flavours in our Lemon Garlic Chicken, resulting in a truly cohesive dining experience.

A Festive Twist: Creating Christmas Cocktails

When it comes to Christmas cocktails, this recipe is a true champion. Its deep red hue is inherently festive, immediately conjuring a sense of holiday cheer. To amplify its Christmassy character, pay attention to the garnishes. A sprig of dark green rosemary alongside a few bright red cranberries floating in the glass creates a delightful miniature Christmas wreath effect. Placing a whole star anise in each glass not only looks elegant but also imparts a subtle, festive fragrance.

Serving a large jug of this at your holiday event is far simpler than acting as a bartender mixing individual drinks all evening. It allows your guests to serve themselves, fostering a relaxed and convivial atmosphere—precisely the vibe you want for a festive gathering. It is undoubtedly one of our favourite holiday drinks.

FAQ

Conclusion

Our Blood Orange Sangria Cocktail is more than just a drink; it’s an invitation to celebrate. It serves as proof that you don’t need to be a professional mixologist to create an impressive, crowd-pleasing beverage. With just a few fresh, seasonal ingredients and a bit of patience as the flavours infuse, you can craft a stunning and delicious centrepiece for any get-together.

So, we encourage you to find a jug, assemble your ingredients, and prepare to delight your guests with this vibrant and festive creation. We are confident it will become a cherished recipe for your special occasions. We would be thrilled to see how yours turns out! Feel free to share a photo on social media and tag us, or drop a comment below to let us know how much you enjoyed it.

Recipe Card

Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Prep: 10 mins
Chill Time: 4+ hrs
Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1 (750 ml) bottle of dry Spanish red wine (like Tempranillo or Garnacha)
• 120 ml brandy
• 500 ml freshly squeezed blood orange juice
• 3 blood oranges, thinly sliced
• 1 navel orange, thinly sliced
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons of maple syrup or honey
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 3 whole star anise
• 250 ml sparkling water, club soda, or prosecco, chilled
• Ice cubes, for serving
• Optional Garnish: fresh cranberries and rosemary sprigs

Instructions

1. Combine Liquids: In a large glass jug or punch bowl, combine the red wine, brandy, fresh blood orange juice, and maple syrup (or honey). Stir until the sweetener is completely dissolved.
2. Add Fruits and Spices: Gently add the sliced blood oranges, navel orange, and lemon to the liquid. Drop in the cinnamon sticks and star anise and give one last gentle stir.
3. Macerate (Chill): Cover the jug and place it in the refrigerator to chill for a minimum of 4 hours. For best results, allow it to chill overnight so the flavours can fully meld together.
4. Serve: When ready to serve, top the sangria with chilled sparkling water or prosecco for fizz. Fill glasses with ice, pour the sangria, and ensure each glass gets a few pieces of the wine-soaked fruit. Garnish with a sprig of fresh rosemary and a few cranberries for a festive touch.

Nutrition (per serving): Nutrition information not provided.