10 Best Wines for Sangria [Ultimate Picks in 2023]
Sangria is the ultimate summer drink and my 'go to' party drink.
It's very simple to make and traditionally contains red wine, fruit juice, fresh fruit, a liquor like brandy, and some brown sugar to taste.
The wine is the heart and soul of any sangria and it will make or break the drink!
A good dry red wine is the base for any good sangria and down below I recommend my favorite wine bases for making the ultimate sangria.
I've also added recommendations for rosé, white, and sparkling wines which make amazing twists on the traditional red sangria.
Sangria can be made with a variety of wines but generally you want something dry, fruity, quite acidic and low in tannins.
Red wine is typically used but white sangria, rosé sangria, and sparkling sangria are all excellent 'spins' on the traditional cocktail.
Here are some good wines for sangria that won't break the bank.
Red Wines for Sangria
Traditional sangria needs a dry and fruity red wine.
Thankfully, there are a few varieties that fit the bill perfectly.
Garnacha
The type of wine I recommend using for your sangria is Garnacha (also known as Grenache).
Garnacha is a red wine typically made in Spain and typically has lower tannins, beautiful rich red fruits and fantastic acidity.
These three components make Garnacha a great option for sangria.
Here are a couple of Garnachas that I've enjoyed in sangria.
La Sonriente Garnacha
I'm starting this list of recommendations with a huge value bomb!
This lovely Garnacha is available exclusively at Trader Joe's and costs just $7. A great sangria wine must be good value as well as great tasting and this wine ticks both boxes.
It brings those smooth cherry and fruity flavors to your sangria that combine so well with the fresh fruit.
It has very fresh aromas of red and black cherries and cranberries, that reminded me of summer back home.
It does really well with a bit of air to breathe so it's great for mixing in a sangria.
If you've got any left, it pairs really well with pasta and spicy dishes too!
2010 Fernandez Gomez Garnacha Rioja Alavesa
The 2010 Fernandez Gomez Garnacha Rioja Alavesa is a much sought after wine because of how well it works with sangria and also how nice it tastes on its own.
It comes from the Tierra Agrícola Labastida Winery which is located in La Rioja, Spain.
It's a well-structured wine that is supple and has plenty of currant flavors. It will add plenty of fruity aromas to your sangria including cherry, strawberry and raspberry.
Tempranillo
Tempranillo is another wine that is mainly made in Spain where sangria was born.
This type of wine will generally bring a really rich and lush texture to the sangria.
Again, different types of Tempranillo wine will bring different flavors and aromas, however, the best will have hints of black cherries, cola and blackberries.
Some Tempranillo wines can actually be heavily oaked which you don’t want so watch out for this on the label before buying.
Here are a couple of Tempranillo wines that works really well in sangria:
2012 Woodstock Wines 'The Octogenarian' Grenache Tempranillo
This Tempranillo is from the Woodstock Winery, located in McLaren Vale in South Australia.
The Octogenarian works really well in sangria as it contains bright cherry and raspberry flavors and isn't oaked.
It also has a bit of a white pepper spice which gives the sangria a bit of a 'kick'. Something I really enjoy.
It's unique flavor comes from the fact it's made with 15% Tempranillo and 85% Grenache grapes. It's a blend that makes it really soft in tannins too. Another key flavor profile for good sangria wine.
2012 Dancing Coyote Lodi California Tempranillo
This Tempranillo comes from the Dancing Coyote Winery which is located in San Joaquin County in California.
The main flavors in this Tempranillo include plum, currants and herbal spice which are all characteristics you want in a sangria.
This a beautiful rich full-bodied wine that has a stunning ruby color and well integrated, smooth tannins.
Bonarda
Bonarda wine still flies under the radar but is widely tipped to make a big splash in the coming years.
It's mainly produced in Argentina and has recently become their second most planted red grape there.
It's not to be confused with Italian Bonarda as they use different grapes. The Argentinian Bonarda uses the Douce Noir grape.
Bonarda is really fruity with low tannins, a medium body, and juicy acidity. Characteristics that make it the ideal wine for sangria.
Rich raspberry, plum, and black cherry flavors can be expected with a really fruity nose too.
A great thing about Argentinian Bonarda at the present time is that it's undervalued (in my opinion). It's a great wine that not enough people are drinking.
Here's a beautiful Bonarda wine that will go perfectly with your sangria:
Bodega El Porvenir de Cafayate Laborum de Parcela Finca Santa Maria Bonarda 2017
This is a dark red, medium bodied Bonarda that has just the right balance to make delicious sangria with.
It's very smooth, very fruity, and very soft on tannins.
Flavors of blueberry, blackberry, honey, and grapefruit were what struck me and made me longing for more.
It's really good value for money too. You can expect to pay less than $10 for this, which is a steal!
Nero d’Avola
The Nero d’Avola wine is mostly made in southern Italy. It's beautifully dark in color and will add depth to your sangria. It's known for its bold, fruity flavor.
It's full bodied and dry, similar in style to Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.
Notes of plum, black cherry, and licorice can be expected. It's generally a bit higher in tannins than our other recommendations but softer expressions can be found.
Nero D’Avola wine can also come in a rose form which you can also use in your sangria if you want to create something lighter in color.
Here's a Nero d’Avola wine that I recommend using for your sangria.
2014 Guarino Estate Vineyards Nero D’Avola
The 2014 Guarino Estate Vineyards Nero D’Avola comes from Sicily.
It has a wonderful jammy flavor that will match perfectly with your sangria. This has just a hint of sweetness but a full rich flavor that is absolutely delicious.
It's a bit softer in tannins than other Nero d’Avola wines. A little sweet and very easy to drink.
Related: Ever heard of kalimotxo or the 'poor person's sangria'?
White Wine for Sangria
Dry, crisp, and fresh white wines make the best base for white sangria.
Think Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Grenache Blanc, Vermentino or Albariño. A sweet liquor like Grand Marnier is usually added that will provide the sweetness.
Jordi Miró Garnacha Blanca 2020
Garnacha Blanca is the Spanish translation of Grenache Blanc and the Jordi Miró is just made for sangria.
It's rich, fruity and crisp with flavors of peach, mango, orange, apricot, and a bit of lemon zest.
It's also incredibly good value for money which is an essential feature of any good sangria wine when you're making it in volume.
Rosé Wine for Sangria
Rosé Sangria is the ultimate crowd pleaser. It satisfies both red wine and white wine lovers.
The best rosés for sangria are floral with flavors of citrus and berries.
Liquid Geography Mencia Rosada
Made with 100% Mencía grapes from over 50 year old vines this Spanish rosé is dry and floral.
Flavors of red berries and white pepper make for a unique sangria.
It's crisp and medium acidic with wonderful citrusy grapefruit notes on the finish.
It retails for around $12 at the time of writing. An amazing fact about this wine is that Olé & Obrigado donate 50% of the profits from this amazing rosé to cancer and disability charities.
Sparkling Wine for Sangria
A cup of brandy, 1/2 a cup of Grand Marnier, some chopped fruit (orange, raspberries, lemon, lime), a 1/4 cup of sugar, and a couple of bottles of cold sparkling wine is a recipe for delicious sparkling sangria.
But the success of this recipe hinges on using right sparkling wine.
So what are we looking for?
We need something fruity, vibrant, and refreshing.
Both Lambrusco and Prosecco fit the bill. But Lambrusco can often be a bit high in tannins for my liking and is often oaked.
However, Lambrusco di Sorbara (the Lambrusco variety with the lowest tannins) can work really well.
The right Prosecco is just perfect. Here's one that makes divine sangria.
Rebuli Zerogrammi Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore N.V.
This dry Prosecco has beautiful aromas of flowers, peach, and pears.
Made from 100% Glera grapes and containing zero residual sugar, it's an exceptional Prosecco.
Flavors of grapefruit, peach, green apple, and lime greet your tongue, while small, intense bubbles provide the sparkle.
It smells quite sweet from the fruit but it's dry and acidic in the mouth.
Fruity, dry, bubbly, and really fun, this is a gorgeous Prosecco that can elevate a sangria to wondrous new heights.
Best Cheap Wine for Sangria
For most of us, the perfect wine base for sangria needs to be reasonably priced as well as fitting the required flavor profile.
Thankfully, there's a great Grenache out there that's perfect for mixing in this way.
Viña Borgia Garnacha
At around $7 a bottle and $20 for a 3L box, the Viña Borgia Garnacha is possibly the best cheap wine for sangria.
I don't like using the word 'cheap' because it automatically infers that it's somehow inferior but that's simply not true.
With flavors of plum, dark cherry, raspberry and a hint of spice, it's a really fruity and flavorful wine that goes down really well on its own.
Full bodied, dry, and not overly acidic, it sure makes a great sangria too!
Conclusion
If you're looking for a great sangria wine just keep it dry, fruity, and low in tannins.
Garnacha wine typically works wonders and is probably the best wine for sangria.
Another big consideration besides the taste is the cost.
If you're making gallons of sangria then it's important that the wine is relatively cheap as well as fitting the flavor profile.
The Viña Borgia Garnacha is really hard to beat on value. It's a lovely tasting wine in its own right too.
Do you know a wine that makes amazing sangria? We'd love to hear what your recommendations are in the comments section.
