A popular choice for summer-lovers and fruit fans, sangria is a tangy alcoholic punch well-loved by many. The drink originates from Spain and Portugal, and gets its name from the Spanish word for blood, sangre, as red wine and brandy were the most common beverage choices for this cocktail.

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We could sit here for hours and discuss the aromatic flavors and refreshing taste that comes with sipping sangria on a patio, but instead, we’d like to introduce you to your new favorite fall drink: spiced sangrias.

Regular sangrias rely on a marination of fresh fruit in wine to achieve their delicious flavor, and are usually best served cold. Spiced sangries, on the other hand, include ingredients like cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and ginger to create a warmer flavor profile, a welcoming drink when the weather turns cold. The best part is that it can still be enjoyed cold, or you can serve it hot, similar to a mulled wine. 

Smooth red wines like merlot or pinot noir are preferred for any type of sangria, but we’d like to talk about a few other wine options that will make your next batch perfect.

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Garnacha

Garnacha is a Spanish wine, often used in sangria recipes. It’s full of flavors like cherry, raspberry, and strawberry, but also has tinges of white pepper, cinnamon, and licorice, making it an excellent choice for your spicier drinks. Be warned, however, that oak-aged garnacha has an earthy flavor, which can overpower the spices and fruit notes in your drink. 

Tempranillo

This wine takes the cake as Spain’s most popular red wine grape, and is one of the more inexpensive options out there. It has a medium-low acidity with medium tannins, and often includes dark fruit flavors like cherry, plum, and blackberry. It also tends to have notes of clove and vanilla, which will blend well with your other spices. Choose a Joven or Crianza Tempranillo to avoid that oaky flavor. 

Zinfandel

This red wine originated in Croatia, but became widely popular in Italy during the 18th century. Zinfandel grapes make for a bold and fruity flavor profile, with complementary spice notes like black pepper, cinnamon, clove, anise, and vanilla. If possible, purchase a Zinfandel from a hotter climate, as these wines often have a richer taste and stronger spice notes. 

Malbec

Originating from France but now widely produced in Argentina, this full-bodied red wine is best known for its blackberry, cherry, and plum flavors. French Malbecs have a higher acidity and commonly include notes of leather and black pepper, while Argentine Malbecs have more fruit-forward flavor profiles, making them the better choice for sangria. 

Gamay 

Similar in taste to pinot noir, Gamay is a lighter-bodied red wine that often has flavors of raspberry, cherry, violets, and peonies. It’s described as fresh and vibrant, with an earthy aftertaste. For spices, it usually has notes of black pepper. Gamay’s high acidic content will keep your sangria from getting too sweet, while its low tannins keep the punch from getting that undesirable astringent taste.