Friends, it’s time for another easy cocktail recipe! There’s just something about sangria, isn’t there? The fruit, the wine, the slight sweetness. It’s fun and festive and extra special.
I’m a fan of all kinds of variations on sangria – like sangria with rose, or sangria with prosecco. And now, a red wine sangria, but make it blackberry.
The sweet, rich, juicy blackberry flavor pairs so well with red wine (hey, even better if you get a luscious, juicy red wine!) that it’s an instant win.
Make this easy cocktail in a pitcher ahead of time for parties. Serve it at Halloween with some DIY eyeballs to make it scary – plus those oranges, purples, and greens scream Halloween colors!
Elevate it and serve it at a fall get-together around the bonfire (blackberries are in season in autumn, you know!), or of course, enjoy it for happy hour on a summer afternoon.
There’s no right or wrong time of year to enjoy blackberry sangria, so let’s get to sippin’!
What is Sangria?
Sangria is a wine beverage that comes from Spain and Portugal. It’s like a punch, traditionally made with red wine, a mixture of chopped fruit, and usually additional liquors. The fruit usually consists of berries, peaches, apples, or pears.
Ingredients & Substitutions
With just a few simple ingredients you’ll have a delicious sangria in no time!
- Blackberry Simple Syrup – it’s so easy to make and does double duty in sweetening the sangria while adding blackberry flavor (it also means no grittiness from granulated sugar!).
- Blackberries – not just for the syrup… for the sangria, too!
- Red Wine (just one bottle) – any red wine will work for this sangria — just make sure it’s something you like to drink! I recommend a middle-of-the-road red over a nicer bottle since we are adding additional ingredients to it.
- I’ve used Merlot, Boujoulais, and Pinot Noir
- Chambord – nothing like a little black raspberry liqueur to pair well with blackberry!
- To change the flavor, but add the extra booze, try adding Cointreau or triple sec, to play off of the orange. Brandy is a traditional addition!
- Green Apple – could it be sangria without an apple? Green is my favorite in this recipe because it adds a little tartiness. And…color theme!
- Orange Slices – an ode to traditional sangria; go ahead and add a little juice if you’re feeling it.
- Cinnamon Stick – for a hint of warmth.
- Lemon Juice – for just a touch of acidity.
- Club Soda – for a little fizz and to take the drink further; if you like sweet, try a lemon-lime soda or even ginger beer. Not into it? Leave it out!
Let’s Make Blackberry Sangria
Sangria is a super easy cocktail to make, and one of the best cocktails to make in advance for a party because the longer it sits, the more flavorful it becomes!
The most time-intensive part of the process is making homemade blackberry syrup. And even that is hands-off, easy, and quick to do!
Making it requires simmering sugar, water, and blackberries in a saucepan for about 8 minutes until the berries are soft and smashed. Then, strain out the seeds and pulp, and voila! Beautiful blackberry syrup.
From there, all you need to do is combine the ingredients in a large pitcher. Stir them well until completely combined. Of course, taste test and adjust any levels as needed.
If you have time, let the sangria sit for at least an hour to allow the flavors to meld. You can make it up to a day in advance.
Serving Sangria
Pour the sangria into glasses with some fruit, and top off with seltzer or club soda to your liking. That way you can make it as strong as you’d like. Either way, be sure to add the club soda right before serving or it will fizzle out.
Garnish the glasses with additional blackberries or citrus slices. A fresh sprig of mint is also delicious if you have it on hand, or fresh rosemary in the wintertime is adds a festive flair.
Feel free to serve it chilled or at room temperature, and enjoy! Cheers!
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review in the form below. I appreciate your feedback, and it helps others, too!
Get the Recipe Blackberry Sangria
Ingredients
Blackberry Syrup
- 6 ounces fresh blackberries, or frozen*
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup water
Sangria
- 1 orange, sliced
- 1 green apple, small dice
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 cup blackberry syrup, recipe included
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ cup Chambord
- 1 bottle red wine, 750ml, any variety
- 4 ounces blackberries
- Club soda, optional
Instructions
- Blackberry Syrup: In a small saucepan, combine sugar, water, and blackberries. Heat over medium-high heat until simmering, stirring occasionally. Once softened, gently smash the softened berries with the back of a spoon or masher. Simmer for 6-8 minutes until the berries have disintegrated into seeds and the syrup is bright purple. Remove from heat and strain out the berries and seeds through a fine-mesh sieve.
- Measure out 1 cup of blackberry syrup; the recipe makes just over 1 cup; reserve the rest for later or add it if you prefer a sweeter sangria.
Sangria
- Add the orange slices, diced apple, and cinnamon stick to a pitcher. Add blackberry syrup, Chambord, and the bottle of red wine. Stir well to combine. Gently stir in the blackberries.
- Let the sangria sit for up to 24 hours, or serve immediately. Top each glass with club soda, as desired, and fruit from the sangria. Enjoy!
Notes
- Frozen Berries for Syrup: No need to thaw before using, you just may need to simmer a few extra minutes. They tend to be less sweet so be sure to taste test and add more sugar if you need to.
