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25 Easy Thanksgiving Sangria Recipes to Sip During Fall

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These easy Thanksgiving Sangria recipes feature your favorite fall flavors and are perfect for serving a crowd. Whether you’re hosting a cozy Friendsgiving or a festive Thanksgiving celebration, these fall sangrias will add a tasty touch to your gathering. And don’t worry, they’ll keep you in good spirits all the way into Christmas too!

Text: Sangria Recipes for Thanksgiving with 4 different cocktail glasses holding variations of fall sangria.
You’re going to love these Thanksgiving Sangria recipes.

These sangria recipes are perfect for Thanksgiving

This list of fall sangrias will help you complete your menu with a fun and festive drink to serve when entertaining this holiday season. Whether you choose a red wine or white wine base you’ll easily find a delicious wine cocktail to sip with friends and family. 

When it comes to Thanksgiving, having a versatile and crowd-pleasing cocktail is essential. With its enticing flavors and pretty presentation, sangria is a great option.  

You know I love dump cakes, and sangrias are pretty much also a dump recipe. Aside from cutting up some fruit, you pretty much just add a few different types of liquid to a large container. So simple

Related: Fall Cocktails to Make at Home

Try a spiced red sangria, infused with the warmth of mulled spices like cinnamon and nutmeg that will complement the rich flavors found on the Thanksgiving table. Or how about a crisp white wine version with fresh cranberries, pomegranate seeds, or apples for a burst of freshness?

The beauty of this wine cocktail is that you can easily customize it to your liking, changing up the sweetness, acidity, and alcohol content to create the perfect balance for your guests. 

The best part? You can even skip the booze altogether and still enjoy a delicious mocktail version.

Planning a party can be stressful, but with these Thanksgiving sangria recipes, it will be a breeze. They are easy to make ahead in batches, allowing you to spend less time behind the bar and more time enjoying the company of your loved ones. 

Sangria is the perfect Thanksgiving cocktail. Try one or more of these recipes this year. 

Fall Sangria Recipes

If you're a fan of sangrias, you're going to love this list of Thanksgiving sangria recipes. Serve these tasty wine cocktails at all your gatherings this fall.

 Serving Sangria at Thanksgiving

When it comes to serving sangria at your Thanksgiving gathering, presentation is key. Here are some tips on how to best serve Sangria at Thanksgiving.

TIP: Remember to give the sangria a gentle stir before serving to ensure that all the flavors are well-mixed.

Glassware

You can literally serve Sangria in any type of glassware you want. Large wine glasses or stemless goblets will show off the vibrant colors and pieces of fresh fruit plus allow room for the ice and garnishes.

Make sure you use something transparent so your guests to appreciate the look.

Using a smaller glass, though, will ensure smaller portions which is great when trying to make sure you have enough for a large group. You also don’t want anyone getting too tipsy as the meal goes on.

Or maybe you do. There’s no judging. Family time can be hard. 

Ice and Chill

Unless otherwise noted, sangria is best served chilled. Once you’ve prepared the recipe, allow it to chill in the refrigerator for two to four hours before serving.

When your guests arrive, add ice cubes to the glasses and pour the sangria over them.

It will keep the drink chilled but also helps to not dilute the flavors too much, too fast. If you are making sangria with liquor as well as wine, it will hold up to dilution a little bit better. 

Garnishes

Garnishing your sangria is an opportunity to add a pretty finishing touch. Use some of the leftover fruits used in the sangria recipe. For example, float a slice of apple, a few fresh cranberries, or a sprinkle of pomegranate arils (also known as pomegranate seeds) on top of the cocktail.

Not only do these garnishes add a burst of color, but they also serve as a hint of the flavors that await.

Cinnamon sticks are a great garnish idea for Thanksgiving sangria recipes. It looks good and is especially great if there is also cinnamon in the recipe. 

At the very least, you can toss in a fresh rosemary sprig. It looks festive and no doubt there will be other dishes with rosemary somewhere on your buffet. 

For an extra festive touch, offer drink stirrers or cocktail picks decorated with seasonal symbols. These can be small decorative flags, leaf-shaped stirrers, or even mini decorative fruits on the end.

They add a fun element but also encourage stirring the cocktail to help combine the flavors.

Add Sparkling Water or Club Soda

If you prefer a lighter and more fizzy sangria, you can offer a splash of club soda just before serving. The bubbles add a refreshing twist and create a livelier drinking experience.

It’s also another easy way to stretch out a batch of Thanksgiving sangria to serve more people. 

Additionally, the effervescence can help cleanse the palate between bites of rich Thanksgiving dishes.

Serve in Pitchers or a Drink Dispenser

To ensure that your guests can help themselves to refills easily, serve the sangria in a large pitcher or a drink dispenser with a tap. This will allow you to handle the rest of the hostessing duties and let your guests replenish their own glasses and enjoy their fall sangria at their own pace.

You can also serve it in a punch bowl but I find those tend to get messy with people serving themselves. 

How to Make a few batches ahead of time

Preparing multiple batches of sangria ahead of time allows you to focus on other aspects of your Thanksgiving feast without sacrificing flavor or quality.

Scaling up the recipe to accommodate multiple batches is relatively simple. Start by determining the number of servings you need and adjust the ingredient quantities accordingly.

It’s important to taste and adjust the sweetness, acidity, and flavors of the sangria as you increase the quantities, ensuring that the balance remains perfect.

Most of the recipe cards on this list of sangrias for Thanksgiving will have an option to do the scaling math for you! Hallelujah. Math is hard.

You can make the full sangria recipe ahead of time up to the point of adding the ice and anything with carbonation. You’ll want to wait until just before serving to add those. 

Since most sangria recipes call for 4 hours of resting time (where all those yummy seasonal flavors marry together in harmony) you can make it well in advance. 

How to store leftover sangria

Sangria can typically be stored in the refrigerator (in an air-tight container) for up to 3-4 days, depending on the specific ingredients used. Fruits start to break down pretty fast so you’ll have to use your best judgement.

It’s usually best to consume it within 24-48 hours to enjoy the freshest flavors and textures.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is traditional sangria made from?

Traditional sangria typically consists of wine, a mix of fruit (such as oranges and lemons), sweeteners (like sugar or simple syrup), and added spirits like brandy or liqueurs. However, there is an endless number of variations and creative twists on the traditional recipes, which often feature seasonal fruits, spices, or unique flavor combinations. I’ve tried to choose recipes for this list that have lots of those warm, fall flavors.

Is sangria better with red or white wine?

Sangria can be made with either red and white wine (and rosé or sparkling wine too!), and the choice ultimately depends on personal preference. Red wine often lends a deep and robust flavor, making it suitable for spiced and fruity sangrias. White wine, on the other hand, offers a lighter and more refreshing profile, perfect for citrus-infused or tropical sangrias. Try both and see which one you prefer!

What types of wine should I use?

Most of the recipes call out a specific type of wine to use. For red wine sangrias, you can use Pinot Noir, cabernet sauvignon, a red blend, tempranillo, zinfandel or grenache. For a white wine sangria, you can use sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, Vermentino, grenache blanc or reisling. I wouldn’t use chardonnay (unless specifically called out in a recipe) since it has a lot of oak flavor that may not play well with the other flavors.

What fruit should I put in sangria?

The choice of fruits for your sangria can vary depending on personal preferences and the flavor profile you want to achieve. Traditional fruits used in sangria include oranges, lemons, limes, and apples. However, feel free to experiment with seasonal fruits like cranberries, pomegranates, figs, or even stone fruits. The key is to select fruits that complement the wine and add visual appeal to the drink.

A party table with text next to it to get email sign ups for a Thanksgiving Planner.

For more holiday entertaining tips, check out my Friendsgiving Party Ideas post.

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