Sip your way through summer with these 10 refreshing sangria recipes

Colorful and refreshing – nothing is more summery than an ice-cold mix of wine and fruit. And while a Spanish sangria excels in its classic form, there are plenty of fun recipes out there that are just as delicious. We round up a few that would make you the talk of a pool party.

The world’s rendezvous with drunken punches, especially sangria, began with the Romans in 200 BC for red wines from Spain, and the blends made with them were often enjoyed. Eventually this trend caught on across Europe with cognac and a range of different fruits being added to the mix to make it more potent. By the 18th century, the drink was everywhere, including romantic novels and important galas.

Today, sangrias are popular at brunch spreads and pool parties, providing a refreshing alternative to more common cocktails on scorching summer days. And while it’s technically meant to be made with red wine — sangre translates to blood in Spanish — there are several other quirky renditions that will make you change your mind. Not to mention, they’re a nice change from the usual wine and fruit affair. From citrus-infused mimosa to tropical pina colada, here’s an overview of the tastiest and funniest sangria recipes.

Add a dash of fun to your usual sangria routine with these 10 recipes

Classic Red Sangria

We start this list with an authentic recipe that you can’t go wrong with. With ingredients such as apples, oranges, orange juice, lime, brown sugar and brandy (or rum), this one has a sweet, easy-to-drink quality. Add a bold, dry Spanish red wine like tempranillo, garnacha or rioja to the mix, along with some good quality ice cream and you have the perfect sangria. Make this ahead of time if you’re having a party to let the flavors develop.

Cucumber Melon Sangria

The only thing more refreshing than sangria on a hot summer day is one that puts cucumber and melon in the spotlight. This recipe calls for sweet white wine, gin, simple syrup, club soda, honeydew melon, and cucumber slices. Light on the palate, with sweet and sour notes, this recipe is elevated by the addition of mint leaves and club soda. Not to mention, it’s ridiculously easy to whip up.

Iced tea Sangria

This recipe combines two classic summer treats: iced tea and sangria. The ingredients list includes sweet wine wine, iced tea, honey, strawberries, and peaches. Mangoes add a tropical twist to the blend. Best part? It only takes a little under a minute to whip this up. And if you’ve always loved long island iced tea, this boozy blend is about to become your new favorite.

Pina Colada Sangria

A tiki drink that doubles as sangria – this one will take you straight to the tropics! Best of all, you only need five ingredients — pineapple juice, moscato wine, chopped pineapple, maraschino cherries, coconut rum — to whip it up. Use canned versions if you can’t get your hands on fresh fruit, and make it ahead of time for deep flavor. This recipe is enough for a large group. If you’re short on time, use chilled wine and add plenty of ice to individual serving glasses rather than the pitcher to avoid diluting the flavor.

Watermelon Sangria

Second only to mango, watermelon is the ultimate summer fruit. It fits perfectly into a sangria recipe, of course. To whip this one up, you’ll need watermelon juice, white wine, vodka, triple sec, lime, oranges, and blueberries. Make sure to refrigerate this for about four hours before serving. Before serving, add extra fruit for extra bloom. On sweltering hot days, this blend will keep you going.

White Wine Vodka Sangria

This sangria is as stunning as it is delicious. The ingredients list includes limes, fresh raspberries, kiwis, citrus vodka, raspberry vodka, white wine, and club soda. You could alternate between pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc, or a moscato for the wine. The sangria only takes about a minute to whip up, and the payoff is a light, fruity, and mildly tart concoction that will shine at any event, be it an elegant soiree or a wild pool party.

Apple Cider Sangria

Tart and sweet brew with hints of spice is reminiscent of autumn. You should steep pears, apples and lemons in apple whiskey, brandy and apple cider for a few hours before adding prosecco or sparkling wine to the mix. You could swap out the apple whiskey for any whiskey you have around the house. Whip these up for intimate gatherings, group dinners, or just whenever you need a warm hug in a wine glass.

Strawberry lemonade Sangria

What is summer without lemonade? This all-time favorite drink gets a boozy kick in this easy-to-follow recipe that calls for moscato wine, vodka, ginger ale, lemonade, fresh strawberries, and lemons. Tart and sweet, the resulting blend has notes of orange blossom and honeysuckle from the addition of the wine and packs a great punch for entertainment. Make sure to use a large pitcher so as not to overcrowd the ingredients and let the concoction cool until you notice a change in color from the juices released from the strawberries.

Mimosa Sangria

The classic tart brunch cocktail meets sweet sangria in this delicious recipe. You need to stock up on orange liqueur, champagne, and orange slices. The strawberry slices and pineapple chunks pack on the tartness while adding a uniquely sweet twist to the usual mimosa flavors. And all you have to do is put the fruit in a pitcher before sprinkling it with the liqueur and alcohol. Your brunch will never be the same!

mango sangria

A great way to get the most out of mango season is to add the creamy, sweet fruit to a variety of unique recipes. This particular blend is a crowd pleaser. It contains raspberries, raspberry liqueur, lemon soda, mangoes and rose wine. The taste is fruity, sweet and slightly tart and goes perfectly with many salads and small snacks. And with a recipe from Martha Stewart herself, there’s little room to go wrong. Bring these to brunch or a pool party, you’re guaranteed to be transported straight to the tropics.

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