Thanksgiving Sangria

This Thanksgiving sangria is our holiday take on sangria. It's made with fall fruit like pomegranates, pears, and apples, so it's perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas and other fall and winter events. It's super easy and totally delicious.

Jump to:

• What is Sangria?
• Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• Frequently asked questions
• Food Pairings
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

What is Sangria?

Sangria is a Spanish and Portuguese alcoholic drink. At a minimum, it usually includes red wine and fruit, but it often contains other ingredients too, such as additional alcohol. It's usually served in large batches, which makes it perfect for parties and holiday gatherings. This Thanksgiving sangria is made with red wine, bourbon, pears, oranges, lemons, and apples for a fall vibe.

Looking for other fun holiday drinks? Try our apple cider old fashioned, winter Aperol spritz, honey lemon whiskey sour, pear gin cocktail, or apple cider bourbon latte.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Dry red wine: Spanish or Portuguese red wines work well.

Bourbon: A second type of alcohol is sometimes added to sangria. For this fall Thanksgiving sangria, we use bourbon, which has a smoky, spicy flavor that pairs perfectly with fall flavors.

Maple syrup: Maple is a great fall flavor, so we use maple syrup to sweeten this sangria. Don't substitute pancake syrup—it's not the same as real maple syrup.

Lemons and Oranges: Lemons and oranges are a common addition to sangria.

Pomegranate juice: Pomegranates are a late fall fruit and the perfect seasonal addition to this sangria.

Pear: We used an asian pear, but you can use whatever you have access to. Pears are another great fall fruit.

Apples: We used a honeycrisp apple. Any semi-tart apple variety would work well—pink lady, Jazz, and Ambrosia apples are all similar to honeycrisps.

Cinnamon sticks: You can usually buy cinnamon sticks in the spice aisle, but they're also available online.

See recipe card for full ingredient list and amounts.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Combine all of the ingredients in a punch bowl or large pitcher.

Step 2: Let the mixture sit for at least an hour or up to 4 hours, then serve!

Food Pairings

This Thanksgiving sangria is great with these fall recipes:

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📖 Recipe