Looking for the perfect alcoholic drink to go with your backyard BBQ, a picnic, pool party, or even holiday family dinners? Sangria, a refreshing and fruity cocktail, is the perfect beverage for just about any and every occasion. However, how do you decide between red vs white sangria?
What are the differences? Which sangria goes with what types of food? There are different reasons to try both types, but let us help you decide.
What is Sangria?
Originating from Spain, sangria is a mixed alcoholic drink made with red or white wine. It can also include flavored liqueur, fruit juice, and a variety of sliced fruits such as oranges, pineapples, mango, pears, kiwi, and more.
Sangria was created as a way to endure summer’s heat, and now it’s become a staple all over the world, served in restaurants, bars, and even in your backyard – at any time.
Comparing Red vs White Sangria
Sangria can be made with red wine or white wine (sometimes even rosé). There are some slight differences when it comes to red and white sangria, like food pairing, popularity, flavors, and occasions or seasons.
So, which one is stronger? Which is sweeter? How do you choose red vs white sangria for the occasion?
Red Sangria
Red wine is typically heavier in alcohol volume (ABV) than white, which means a red sangria will usually be much stronger than one made with white wine.
The traditional sangria is made from red wine. Tempranillo-based wine (from the Iberian Peninsula in Spain) is usually the classic ingredient. However, just about any red wine will do, like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, etc.
Ingredients
In our bottled red sangria, we use a Chilean Merlot. This makes for a fruitier, less tart flavor.
The other ingredients include:
- Orange Juice
- Red Grape Juice
- Lime Juice
- Cane Sugar
(ABV = 8%)
You can also add things like triple sec, brandy, rum, soda water for carbonation, and fruits, to fit personal preference.
The red sangria is generally more popular. After all, our red sangria is how we as a company started – it was created in our kitchen and served to our family and friends at countless dinners and parties. It is a delicious, authentic homestyle sangria. It has a bold flavor, with a touch of citrus. Not too sweet, not too tart.
Occasions
Certain occasions call for a red sangria rather than a white one.
We tend to think that red sangria goes best with summer barbecues with any red meat or steak. It’s also great for a dinner table full of different tapas. Red sangria even goes well with colder months and holidays, like at the Thanksgiving or Christmas table. It can even be served warm or hot – just don’t heat it too fast.
White Sangria
Along with its increase in popularity, white wines have emerged as another popular ingredient because their fruitiness works well with most sangria recipes.
Personal preference will largely depend on which wine you prefer, but white wine is usually with a Pinot Grigio, a Vermentino, or a Sauvignon Blanc.
Ingredients
In our bottled white sangria, we use a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc. This ensures that our white sangria is not too overwhelmingly sweet, as most white wines are already sweet before being added to a sangria mix.
The other ingredients include:
- Mango Purée
- Pineapple Juice
- Apple Juice
- Lemon Juice
- Lime Juice
- Cane Sugar
(ABV = 8.5%)
Our classic White Sangria is tropical and refreshing! One sip will make you feel like you are in the sunny Caribbean. The pineapple and mango flavors pair well with rum and vodka if you feel so inclined to make it a more alcoholic cocktail.
Occasions
Certain occasions call for a white sangria vs a red one.
We tend to think that a white sangria goes better with lighter foods and seasons. For example, white sangria goes better with different kinds of pasta and desserts. Pastries, empanadas, alfredo, etc.
Even a light appetizer snack would pair well with a white sangria, like chips and salsa, veggies and hummus, etc. White sangria is also typically enjoyed during the warmer months, as the lighter color invites more of a cooler, tropical feeling.
Foods That Pair With Red and White Sangria
Top your drink with a sweet snack that complements the flavors in your cup.
Since sangria is a sweet drink, it pairs well with savory dishes or tapas. Pairing your drink with another sweet dish or dessert also works, if you’re looking to crave that sweet tooth of yours.
Red Sangria Food Pairing
Red sangria typically pairs well with foods that are spicy like cured meats, hot salsas, and peppers. Red sangrias are also typically enjoyed with seafood dishes such as calamari, shrimp, oysters, grilled fish, and more. Additionally, sangria can also accompany cheese such as aged cheddar, Gouda, and Camembert, as the rich flavors pair well with the citrus notes of the fruity sangria.
What Fruits To Put In Your Sangria
Fruits are a big part of making a sangria, not only do they make your drink look like a summer dream, but it also enhances the flavor of the cocktail. You can experiment with different fruits at home but white wines are typically mixed with fruits such as pear, peach, and green apple while red wines are often mixed with melon, litchi, and pineapple.
When making sangria at home, we suggest marinating the fruits in your liqueur overnight to add an extra edge to your cocktail. You can use liqueurs such as brandy, triple sec, or Grand Marnier.
Compare Red vs White Sangria with Señor Sangria
Here at Señor Sangria, we make both red and white sangrias from our hand-crafted recipe using quality Chilean wines and unfiltered fruit juice. Whether you prefer white or red, we guarantee you’ll fall in love with Señor Sangria within the first sip.
We focus on making bottled sangria that tastes fresh from our kitchen.
Our family-owned and operated brand is ready to be a staple in your home. We consider Sangria as a way of life, embodying the spirit of love, laughter and memories spent with friends and loved ones. Additionally, you can check out our recipes page and use Señor Sangria to create fun and refreshing cocktails.
Find Señor Sangria near you or purchase a bottle (or two) online.
Our sangria comes ready to drink. All that is required from you is to shake, pour over ice & enjoy.