Winter Sangria Perfect for Christmas

A delicious sangria recipe is not just for summer, give this simple yet tasty Winter Sangria, sometimes called Christmas Sangria a try. I think you'll be glad you did, cheers!

When you think parties and gatherings besides the food menu, you plan which cocktails, wines and beer to serve. Some are year-round drinks and then to make things more interesting, some are seasonal cocktails, wine or beer.

Our holiday parties with friends or family always include boozy beverages. One of my favorites to serve is sangria. It's a great make-ahead cocktail and it stretches the wine you may have bought. Both of those are wins in my book.

What I love about making Winter Sangria is that it's easy, a crowd-pleaser. Plus it's flexible and easy to customize. A little of this and that equals a tasty drink!

The first time I came across a gorgeous bin of Satsuma oranges with their vibrant green leaves still attached I was at a Whole Foods Market. I had never come across them and was curious, so I took some home.

It was before Christmas, and I experiment using them and other fall and winter fruits and this Christmas Sangria recipe was born. Right then & there I decided that satsumas would be a part of my Holiday Winter Sangria, yummy!!

What are Satsumas?

• Satsumas are a variety or Manderin orange prized for their sweetness, juiciness and are low acid.
• Known for being easy to peel and seedless satusamas typically yield more juice than other citrus fruits.
• Orginally from Japan, satsuma mandarins are now grown in China, Spain, some southern states in the USA and more recently in South Africa and a few areas of Australia.
• Satsumas peak season is late fall-winter early winter making them a delicious addition to winter fruit salads, sauces, beverages and enjoying them as is.
• An average Satsuma contains just 50 calories and provides more than the daily-recommended amount of Vitamin C, they are also high in calcium, fiber, thiamine, and folate.  

What fruits are good for Winter Sangria?

• Any citrus fruits like satsumas, permissions, blood oranges, clementines or similar.
• Fruits like cranberries and pomegranates are festive as well.
• Apple chunks are great (a firm apple) and a nice lil' snack when you get to the end of your glass.
• Thick slices of peeled kiwi are a pretty accent as well making a festive Christmas Sangria with a green accent. Starfruit works as well.
• I like a squeeze of lemon or lime in it as well.

Make Ahead Tip Make sangria up to a week ahead. Add fruits and garnish the day you will serve.

Ingredients Needed

• red wine
• satsumas (or substitute clementine, orange)
• fresh limes
• blackberry brandy
• Triple Sec (orange liquor)
• Cranberry Simple Syrup (recipe in recipe card) Ingredients: fresh cranberries, water and sugar
• Optional Garnishes include: Satsuma or clementine wedges, lime wedges, pomegranate seeds, fresh cranberries, cinnamon sticks, star anise

Variations: Add a cinnamon stick or two or some whole star anise for a spiced sangria. I suggest red for this winter sangria recipe, however if red is not your thing, feel free to use white wine or rose. If you choose that route, use fruits like kiwi, starfruit, and citrus accents that compliment the wine you choose. A few pomegranates or cranberries and a sprig of Rosemary will give it a festive look.

This winter Sangria is fabulous for Christmas parties and dinners.  The color is festive and the available fruits in December are a perfect compliment!

As a matter of fact, I am gifting a few interestingly shaped jars of Winter Sangria over Christmas. A pretty jar of homemade sangria is a great host / hostess or food gift! I bet a few people in your life would LOVE a jar of homemade Christmas Sangria vs a plate of cookies 😉

Cheers XO Colleen

Recipe originally published December, 2014. Updtaed January, 2025 with some new images and tips.

Cocktail Recipes to try

Colleen Kennedy is the author of 3 cookbooks and has appeared on QVC and other shows inspiring home cooks of all levels. She has a successful TikTok channel (@Colleen'sCooking). Colleen lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and kids, she started this food blog in 2009.

Winter Sangria

Colleen Kennedy

Tasty Winter Sangria Recipe also called Christmas Sangria. Easy to make for a crowd and helps stretch you wine a bit with a delicious & festive flair!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Course Cocktails, Drinks

Cuisine American, spanish

Servings 6 servings

Calories 343 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 750 ml bottle red wine (merlot, shiraz, or a red blend) Or whichever red you enjoy
• ½ cup Satsuma juice you can substitute clementine
• ¼ cup fresh squeezed lime juice
• ½ cup blackberry brandy
• ¼ cup Triple Sec
• 1 to 1 ½ cups Cranberry Simple Syrup depends on preferred sweetness, recipe follows

Cranberry Simple Syrup

• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 1 cup water
• ¾ cup sugar

Optional Garnishes

• Satsuma or clementine wedges
• Lime wedges
• Pomegranate seeds
• Fresh Cranberries
• cinnamon sticks
• star anise

Instructions

 

Winter Sangria

• In a large pitcher, gallon mason jar or large pot combine wine, citrus juices, brandy, triple sec and ½-1 cup of the Cranberry Simple Syrup (start with ½ cup and taste and adjust for sweetness add up to 1.5 cups of it if you want it really sweet).  Stir, taste.  
• Decide your preference for sweetness and either add the other ½ cup of Cranberry Simple Syrup or save it for another use.  Add in the fruit (remember if possible organic is best when having fruit floating in your drink).  Allow it to sit in your cold garage or fridge for at least 1 hour, up to 36 hours and serve.  
• When serving always serve this over ice... the more ice the better!
• If giving this as a gift, do not add fruit until right before gifting OR package fruit on the side (keep citrus whole).

Cranberry Simple Syrup

• In a small pot, combine cranberries, water and sugar. Heat until the mixture begins to boil then reduce to a simmer.
• Continue simmering until cranberries have burst (about 3-4 minutes more).
• Remove from heat and carefully use a potato masher or a muddler to mash the cranberries, which will maximize the infusion. Allow this mixture to cool.
• Strain the syrup (using a mesh strainer) into a bowl. Be sure to press firmly down on the cranberries to get every bit of syrup. You will need to scrape the cranberry pulp off of the strainer and discard to continue, or the strainer will become clogged.
• Once the syrup is completely cool, transfer it into a mason jar or glass container and store in your fridge until ready to use.  This keeps well for a week in your refrigerator.

Notes

Make Ahead Tip - You can store it in the fridge (sealed) without the fruit / garnishes for a week.

For Cranberry Lime Simple Syrup - add in 2 TBS to a ¼ cup of fresh squeezed lime. Taste and adjust for sweetness adding a little extra sugar if you want it sweeter.

Variation - Add club soda, Sprite, or other citrus soda to this if you choose for a bit of fizz as well as to stretch it for a party - your call. Just place a small amount of the sangria in a glass over ice add some soda overtop and serve. That way bubbles are fresh.

Nutritional calculation is very loose. Based on six (6) 8 ounce servings of Sangria. Merlot was used in calculation and plain brandy was used in calculation. 1 cup of plain simple syrup was used in calculation as well.

Nutrition

Serving: 6servingsCalories: 343kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 0.3gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.01gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.01gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.002gSodium: 41mgPotassium: 244mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 47gVitamin A: 5IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 26mgIron: 3mg

Keyword christmas sangria, winter sangria

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