This Spiced Holiday Pomegranate Sangria Recipe is perfect for the upcoming months. Sip on this winter sangria with beautifully blended flavors of punchy citrus, tangy pomegranate, honey, herbs and spices, and your favorite red wine.
Wash apples and oranges, and slice into rounds, or if preferred dice them.
Add apples, oranges, pomegranate arils, star anise, cinnamon sticks and rosemary to a tall pitcher. Drizzle with honey.
Pour the wine into the pitcher, stirring everything together. Refrigerate for 4 hours or preferably overnight. This allows the spices and fruit and wine to mingle and steep.
To serve, spoon some fruit from the sangria into individual glasses, then pour spiced wine over the top, adding a splash or two of sparkling water if desired. Garnish with extra rosemary and if desired, a stick of cinnamon or star anise.
Notes
Variations & Substitutions
Try Different Fruits - Pears, blood oranges, pineapples, and fresh cranberries are good options to experiment with for your holiday sangria recipe.
Spice It Up - Add 4-8 whole cloves or 6-8 whole allspice if desired.
Customize the Spice - If you don't like a particular spice, omit it.
Make the Non-Sparkling Version - Omit the sparking water for a non-fizzy sangria.
Other Bubbles - Try your favorite mixer, like Ginger Ale, Club Soda or even Prosecco would be a delicious addition.
Make it Extra Sweet - For those who might like it sweeter, make some simple syrup to have available, they can customize their drink on the spot.
Boost the Flavor - Include orange juice (about ½ a cup) or lemon juice (between 2-4 tablespoons) to kick up the citrus notes.
Extend your Sangria Recipe - In addition to the citrus juices above, add 1 cup of cranberry juice, pomegranate juice and/or apple cider, for a total of about 2-3 cups.
Change the Wine | Use your favorite white wine instead, dryer, more acidic, and crisp fresh whites like Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, or Grenache Blanc. Again it will taste best using your favorite white wine.
Hot Spiced Wine Mulled Wine Option
A traditional holiday drink is hot spiced mulled wine, great for a chilly evening. Add wine and fruit to a saucepan, Dutch oven or crockpot. Then, stir in the honey and spices.Simmer over low heat for about 30 minutes. Be careful not to allow the sangria to boil. Add rosemary at the very end and simmer for a few more minutes. If wanting to make an authentic mulled wine, add ¼ cup of brandy at the end.For crockpot heat over LOW 3-4 hours, adding rosemary towards the end. A delicious holiday cocktail.StorageRefrigerate | Store the leftovers in the fridge in a covered large pitcher for 2-4 days. But the flavors might start altering after 3 days, though it's still safe to drink.Can you freeze sangria? | This spiced holiday sangria freezes well! It's the perfect drink recipe to make ahead of time and serve at your convenience. If freezing before serving the beverage, leave the fruits out to remain fresh.If freezing leftover sangria, remove the fruit before pouring the drink into a freezer bag. Thaw overnight and enjoy cold or warm in saucepan, or better yet, place frozen sangria in blender and enjoy margarita style.