This easy recipe for blackberry sangria mingles red wine and orange brandy for a sweet and charming summer cocktail. Make one glass or a pitcher!
Whether you are looking for a refreshing porch sipper or a party starter, this very berry sangria is the cocktail for you. It’s refreshing break from the heat of summer!
Is there anything better than juicy, ripe blackberries? Black as night and so delicate hanging on the thicket… who could pass by vine-ripened berries and not steal a taste?
When I was a kid, I lived in an apartment complex that bordered old farm land. The farm was slowly being taken out by shopping mall developments, but a long stand of blackberries escaped demolition and lay unclaimed. My friend Gina and I picked buckets full for her mom. I don’t know what became of them after we picked them, but I vividly recall eating as many berries as we plucked, our hands and clothes stained from the whole endeavor.
This experience, coupled with picking strawberries at my Great Aunt Martha’s house, began my love of fresh picked fruit. You see, before my parents’ divorce we lived in the suburbs of DC. My dad grew some tomatoes in the backyard (which at that age gave me a rash if I dared to touch the plants) but I guess you could say I was a city kid. Fruit came from the grocery store…
As we started a new life, I started to embrace my wild West Virginia roots.
It did not take long to fully immerse myself in country life. Gina and I roamed the pastures nearby, braving the electric fence that separated our apartments from cows that lived next door. Daily, we would take these unsanctioned journeys eating any flower or fruit in reach. In hindsight, I see how stupid this may have been… but at the time, we feared nothing and enjoyed our little mischiefs.
Those days were short lived. As I said, development bulldozed its way in and our illicit playground was replaced with a Zayre’s. Not long after that, we up and moved again. But those memories have always stuck with me. So, a couple years ago we planted our own blackberry bushes. They aren’t producing much yet, so I make regular trips to a local farm stand in the meantime.
Memories aside, I cannot get enough fresh blackberries! I add them to my mixed berry pie, this watermelon blackberry salad and for happy hour, I love this blackberry bourbon smash.
Never enough blackberries, right?
A recent party inspired me to create this stunning blackberry sangria. My friend Angela hosted a summer get-together, complete with smorgasboard of gourmet food and cocktails. I wasn’t surprised, as Angela is elegant in every way imaginable. But the spread of delicious food was amazing even for Angela. I think there may have been 30 dishes she made by herself! Everything yummy and delicious, like lemon couscous, fruit salad, shrimp…seriously amazing. And all inspired by her neighborhood’s summer concert series. Perfect because the band played just a few feet from Angela’s back yard. So fun.
Well, at this party Angela served a blackberry sangria that really struck a chord with me. It was sweet and fruity and very summery. So, I came home and started to tinker with a recipe. I started with farm stand blackberries so plump and ripe that I almost felt bad smashing them with my muddler!
But once I realized how much easier it is to make a blackberry sangria than the traditional sangria, I murdered lots of blackberries in the name of cocktail hour!
How to make blackberry sangria
This recipe only takes a handful of ingredients: blackberries, sugar, red wine, orange brandy and sparkling water.
The best part of this recipe is that you can make an individual glass or a pitcher full in minutes. That’s because the fruit is muddled intead of soaked in the wine. No waiting around all day for the flavors to mingle!
This blackberry sangria is sweet, fruity, and dare I say, pretty darn boozy? I tested two wines: Beringer Paso Nobles The Waymaker Red Wine 2016 and Red Blend Portugal by Carlos Santos Lima. Neither was expensive and they both complimented the blackberry flavor nicely. Bottom line, don’t break the bank for a mixed drink.
I served the sangria with a large ice cube to keep the sangria cold, but not water it down too much. The garnish I used is lemon balm from the garden and of course a cocktail pick with more blackberries. If you’d like a more traditional looking sangria, you can add berries, apples or citrus to the sangria before serving. No matter how you dress it up, this sangria cocktail is a refreshing porch sipper. I’m sure you’re going to love it! Cheers!
Blackberry Sangria Recipe
Ingredients
Blackberry Sangria
- 40 blackberries (about 2 cups)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup orange brandy (such as grand marnier or gala gala)
- 3 cups red wine
- soda water or sprite
Garnish
- Blackberries
- Mint or lemon balm
Instructions
- In a pitcher, muddle together blackberries and sugar.
- Add orange brandy and red wine, then stir.
- Let sit about 15 minutes to let sugar dissolve.
- Serve over ice, topped with a little soda water or sprite.
- Garnish with fresh blackberries and mint.
Notes
- No need to break the bank on the wine, a red blend will do. Lean towards a medium bodied wine with plum, pomegranate or berry notes.
- Make sure to let the sugar dissolve before serving the sangria. A gritty sangria is unpleasant. It should only take 10 to 15 minutes for the sugar granules to dissolve in the alcohol.
- For an single glass of blackberry sangria follow the instructions above using these measurements: 5 large blackberries, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 oz orange brandy, 3 oz red wine, splash of soda water
Nutrition
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Kate says
This sangria recipe is so beautiful, I love the dark color. And I appreciated the tip on letting the mix sit so the sugar can dissolve on its own, I usually just stir and stir and don’t get anywhere :) Very helpful advice!
Vintage Kitty says
Thanks Kate! Me too! Like when I’m making mojitos and I’m super impatient, but it really is wasted energy. The alcohol will dissolve the sugar quickly if you haven’t added ice or water or anything to dilute it.
Kylee says
The pics alone make me drooooool. I love a good cocktail, and anything with fresh fruit and mint is a winner in my book. I can’t imagine making just one glass. I’m a pitcher with a straw in it kinda gal…
Vintage Kitty says
I don’t judge Kylee! Do it girl!
Leslie Kiszka says
Ohhhh that gorgeous pour! I could seriously use one of these right now.
Vintage Kitty says
Thanks Leslie! Life, summer heat…. this will cure what ills you!
Lori says
Your photos are stunning! We have a summer party coming up and this drink will be the perfect addition to it! I can’t wait to make it!
Vintage Kitty says
Thanks Lori! Hope your party is a blast!
Amy says
Wow! This looks incredibly refreshing! I cannot wait to make this. I’m going to try it this weekend!
Vintage Kitty says
Enjoy Amy!
Tatiana says
I adore sangria, and am going to see if my grocery store has blackberries. I have a few friends coming over this weekend, and I can see us devouring these drinks.
Vintage Kitty says
They go down real smooth! Cheers Tatiana!
Jacqueline Debono says
This is a great recipe to use some of the blackberries I pick every year. I’m lucky enough to live in the North Italian countryside and there are tons of blackberry bushes around. I usually make jam and desserts with them. This year I’m going to make sangria too!
Vintage Kitty says
You’re so lucky Jacqueline! I’ve never been to Italy, but from everything I’ve read, our climates are very similar. Blackberries really can survive in the wild! We also have wineberries here that grow all over. Perfect for us dessert and cocktail lovers!
Tara says
I love the combo of juicy, fresh blackberries, the orange flavor in the brandy, and the mint sprigs! A seriously refreshing summer drink!
Vintage Kitty says
Glad you liked it Tara!
Anne Lawton says
I just picked up some blackberries yesterday from a local farm, going to give this a try!
Vintage Kitty says
Enjoy Anne!
Rebecca Blackwell says
I’ve never met a sangria I didn’t love and this recipe looks like it will be no exception. Have you ever tried it with white wine? I’m wondering how this cocktail would be with a crisp, dry Pino grigio.. or maybe sauvignon blanc? Also – I LOVE the glasses you used here. Gorgeous!
Vintage Kitty says
I haven’t, but I don’t see why not! Go for it! I’d use the pinot over sauv blanc personally. The glasses are from Williams Sonoma Outlet. They are hand blown so each is a little different.
Jessica says
I’m the first to order a sangria everywhere the hubs and I go. I love trying different flavors and it’s sad that I’ve never had a blackberry sangria. It sounds perfectly doable with only 2 cups of blackberries, too. It’s a must before summer is over!
Vintage Kitty says
It really is a must! You deserve it Jessica!
Linda says
This looks so wonderful and refreshing. Love every sip of this blackberry sangria and it’s perfect for a summer party.
Vintage Kitty says
Thanks Linda!
Michele says
I was at a restaurant last night drinking a blackberry sangria and I thought…I really need to find a way to make this at home. And HERE is your recipe! SO excited! Looks and sounds amazing.
Vintage Kitty says
It was meant to be Michele! Hope you love it!
Tatjana says
Hi! I made a fruit salad (blackberries, oranges, strawberries, kiwis and grapes)(had bananas too but I took those out) for a party but made way too much so I decided to try using the booze components and see how it would be. Yummy! My hubby now wants me to make extra cut up fruit for every event!
Vintage Kitty says
Glad the recipe was a success!
Ser says
I just made this to take to a dinner party in a few hours!!!! Super easy, and although I have had Sangria many times (some in Spain) I have never taken the time to learn to make it myself .. WHY NOT??? It was super easy, and although I have not shared it with the others yet, it definitely passes my quality control test! I made it exactly as the recipe ~ well, triple though ;-)))) and I m going to add the ice when I transfer it to the serving pitcher. Thanks for this!!! Next time I am invited to a party I’ll say I’ll bring the Sangria!!!! :-))))
Vintage Kitty says
So happy you liked the recipe! Cheers!
Lourdes I Gerena says
Easy and delicious would make again and again!
Vintage Kitty says
:-) Happy you enjoyed it Lourdes!
Kelsey says
Sounds absolutely delicious. I can’t wait to try it! Would it work with Merlot only? I have a ton at my bar that doesn’t move and would love to try this there!
Vintage Kitty says
You can use other red wines. I’d suggest ones that already have fruit notes. I’d avoid ones that mention things like tabacco and smoke.