5 Fun and Delicious Sangria Recipes for Fall

Even if you enjoy fruit-filled sangria in the summer, there's a good chance you mix in popular seltzer drinks or tasty shandy beers too. We all love the flavors of different light and refreshing drinks in the summertime!

But as the temperatures cool off and the leaves change color, you may think about switching up your drink choices. The crisp tastes of fall make their way into our menus when autumn rolls around.

Apple cinnamon, salted caramel apple, and pumpkin spice aren't just for coffee and ice cream lovers. There are interesting sangria recipes with these popular flavors too!

Sangria is always in season when you spice up the traditional recipe with some seasonal ingredients.

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Before we look at some of our favorite cool-weather sangria recipes, let's take a look at the ingredients you use to make a pitcher of traditional sangria.

What is Sangria? 

Sangria is a wine-based punch drink that originated in Spain and Portugal. Classic ingredients of red sangria include:

• red wine
• different types of chopped up fresh fruit or fruit juice/concentrate (limes, lemons, oranges, peaches, raspberries)
• other types of liquor (vodka, gin, white or spiced rum) and liqueurs (triple sec, brandy, cognac, orange-flavored liqueur)
• sugar or simple syrup (*some people skip the sweetener because of all the fruit in the recipe)

You might also see some recipes that call for soda water (seltzer) and various herbs or spices.

Want to give the original version of a delicious sangria a try? Check out Total Wine's Traditional Red Sangria recipe. If you aren't a fan of red wine, try Williams Sonoma Rose Sangria or this White Sangria recipe from the Food Network.

While you can make sangria with cold ingredients or serve it over ice cubes, you can also make it a day ahead and leave it to chill in your refrigerator overnight. Warm sangria is also a hit on cool autumn evenings.

Five Fantastic Fall Sangria Recipes

If you're ready to try some new sangria flavors, here are a few of our favorites. We think you and your guests will enjoy them as the days get shorter and we say goodbye to summer…

Sparkling Apple Cider Sangria

This popular recipe on How Sweet Eats has more than two hundred 5-star reviews! To make this party pleaser, you'll only need six ingredients:

• a bottle of Pinot Grigio
• fresh apple cider
• club soda
• ginger brandy
• honey crisp apples
• pears

Check out pictures of the final product and get all of the directions to make Sparkling Apple Cider Sangria here.

Caramel Apple Sangria

We found our favorite caramel apple sangria recipe at The Wanderlust Kitchen.  You'll need to add the following to your grocery list to make enough for 8 servings.

• a bottle of a dryer white wine (Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc) 
• a bottle of a sweeter white wine (Riesling)
• a couple of your favorite apples
• unfiltered apple cider
• caramel vodka

Recipe and directions for Caramel Apple Sangria. If you want to add a little bit of a salty flavor to this amazing drink, skip the caramel flavored vodkas and give Stoli Salted Karamel vodka or a try!

Pumpkin Spice Sangria

Kroger has a tasty and simple pumpkin spice sangria recipe for you to try. You'll need to pick up the following items when you're at the store:

• pumpkin puree
• vanilla or whipped cream vodka
• maple syrup
• pumpkin pie spice
• a bottle of white wine
• an apple
• an orange

This isn't a last-minute mixer. To maximize the flavor of this sangria, you'll need to make it at least a few hours ahead and let it chill in the refrigerator. Quantities and directions. Cinnamon sticks make a great garnish for this sangria drink.

Cranberry Sangria

Our top pick for this beautiful burgundy sangria is from the website Amanda's Cookin'.  On your next trip to the store, pick up these basic ingredients to get started:

• a bottle of white Zinfandel or a fruity red wine
• fresh cranberries
• medium oranges 
• simple syrup
• orange juice (pulp free)
• cranberry juice
• Triple Sec
• soda water

In just a few minutes, you'll have a batch of this sweet – yet tart – cocktail ready to chill. Follow the directions and check out the serving options for this Cranberry Sangria drink.

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Mulled Wine Sangria

If you're looking for a cocktail that's full of spice, consider trying mulled wine sangria this fall. While many mulled wine recipes are served warm, this sangria recipe from MyRecipes suggests you heat up the ingredients but chill the mixture before serving.

Here's a list of what to buy so you can make this soothing treat:

• a bottle of Merlot or other red wine
• sugar
• mulling spice blend
• fresh orange juice (about 1 large orange) 
• 16 oz. bag frozen unsweetened strawberries
• one orange
• carbonated water

Details on whipping up a batch of this recipe. This drink shares many of the ingredients of class sangria recipes. But allowing time for the mulling spice blend is infuse is essential to making this tasty autumn treat.

Non alcoholic sangria options for fall

Even though you may enjoy all of the different sangria recipes, you may have family members or friends who don't or can't drink alcohol. That's why you should include fun and tasty non-alcoholic sangria options at gatherings too.

In the recipes above, you can replace the wine with an alcohol-free wine or sparkling juices or ciders. Other suggestions include using black tea and pomegranate juice in place of red wine. You can always use some combination of lemon juice, ginger ale, and apple juice or pineapple juice to keep it simple too. 

Make sure to use decorative glasses and garnish each glass the same way you would with the alcohol-based sangrias. A ‘mocktail” of fizzy sangria or basil sangria is a refreshing and enjoyable option that might be more popular than you think.

Bottoms Up

If you enjoy different variations of Spanish sangria, we think you'll find these wonderful autumn spin-offs of a classic favorite interesting and delicious. A glass of sangria is a wonderful cocktail to enjoy with your friends and family.

Find the wine you know and love or discover a new favorite at Total Wine & More. Shop Now!

You'll have a great time making some of these fall-inspired sangria drinks whether you're hosting a family holiday party or game night, getting together with friends, or just trying out a new recipe.

Let us know which one is your favorite or drop us a line with some new sangria ideas!

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