The 5 Best Red Wines for Sangria

Warmer weather is the perfect excuse for a nice, fruity sangria. A traditional Spanish libation, sangria is a wine-based “punch” that includes seasonal fruit, a sweetener, brandy, and sometimes a splash of soda water. There are many iterations of sangria, however, from versions with white wine and peaches to cherries and rosé.

If you’re looking to make a classic red sangria though, what exactly is the best red wine to use? Most recipes simply call for the broad category of “dry red wine.” Let’s take away the guesswork and narrow down some specific styles of wine that deliciously complement the fresh, fruity essence of summer sangria.

Wine takes the center stage in this pitcher cocktail, so choose a wine that is fruity but dry, has good acidity, and is lower in tannins. Feel free to try other fruit-driven wines, like Merlot or Malbec. Just select a style that is not too tannic or heavily oaken.

Let’s walk through the red wines that fit those guidelines, to make a well-balanced, delicious pitcher of sangria.

Garnacha (grenache grown in Spain) generally has lower tannins, showcases rich red fruits, and has great acidity. These characteristics make garnacha my personal go-to for making stellar red sangria.

Good pick: Bodegas Borsao from Tres Picos – Grape: Garnacha. Region: Spain. Year: 2012. Average price: $15

Tempranillo, another Spanish varietal, provides a deep hue; lush texture; and notes of black cherries, blackberries, and cola. Rioja, a region in northeastern Spain that is well known for it’s Tempranillo wines. Bottles labeled “Rioja” are either 100% Tempranillo or a blend, like Ganarcha. Choose tempranillos labeled as “Crianza” or “Joven” to avoid a heavily oaked flavor.

Good pick: Palacios Remondo from La Vendimia – Grape: Tempranillo-Garnacha blend. Region: Rioja, Spain. Year: 2012. Average price: $13

Iterations of the same grape, primitivo (from Italy) and zinfandel (grown mostly in California) are excellent for sangria. The wines usually exhibit rich, jammy fruits, accented with spice and floral notes.

Good pick: Dancing Bull Zinfandel – Grape: Zinfandel. Region: California. Year: 2012. Average price: $10

Argentina’s lesser-known gem-of-a-wine, bonarda, is usually lower in price, offering a great value for its lush, fruity style. Bonarda is often blended with other varietals, but on its own, it delivers rich raspberry- and plum-driven, ripe juice.

Good pick: La Posta Estela Armando Bonarda – Grape: Bonarda. Region: Mendoza, Argentina. Year: 2019. Average price: $15

Grown and produced in southern Italy, Nero d’Avola is dark, soft, and juicy. Nero d’Avola also makes wonderful expressions of dry rosé — great to use in a lighter-style sangria, such as Maureen’s Strawberry & Limoncello Rosé Sangria.

Good pick: Stemmari – Grape: Nero d’Avola. Region: Sambuca di Sicilia in the province of Agrigento , Italy. Year: 2019. Average price: $18

• Try a sweetener. If the wine you chose is too dry for you, sweeten your sangria by adding more fruit juice, simple syrup, agave nectar, or a splash of tonic water.
• Get a head start. Make sangria a day ahead, so flavors can integrate (kind of like how homemade soup tastes so much better the next day).
• Use a good wine, but don’t go too crazy on the price. Choose a bottle you wouldn’t mind enjoying on its own. Wine is the base ingredient, after all, so let it shine!

• How To Make Red Wine Sangria
• Summer Berry Sangria
• Budget Pitcher Sangria
• Black Magic Sangria