When people think of Spain on a sunny day, their thoughts will inevitably veer in the direction of one of Spain’s most iconic drinks; Sangria!

A Tourist Spot Staple

It’s a staple in any tourist spot as well as many traditional Spanish Tabanco bars. The name Sangria comes from the Spanish word Sangre which means blood and refers to the colour of the drink. As water was unsafe for drinking at that time, it was common for them to fortify it with red wine as the alcohol kills off any bacteria. They would often mix in herbs and spices as well to improve the taste, and so Sangria was born!

Since then, it has developed over time and, as with many Spanish dishes and drinks, there is no one authentic recipe. Rather, each region, town, Spanish bar, and even family, have their own sangria recipe!

A Favourite in our Restaurants

We have followed suit, developing our sangria recipes over time based on many years of taste testing throughout Spain! It’s a favourite in our restaurants with our Sangria options featuring the traditional Red Sangria, but also a more unusual White and Rose Sangria. They’re perfect for an afternoon sipping in the sun as well as enjoying throughout the colder seasons when you want to escape to warmer climates for an hour or two.

We thought we’d share our Sangria recipes here for you to enjoy at home. Each recipe makes enough for one jug. And of course, if you don’t fancy making them yourself, you can always stop by for a glass of two.

Ambiente’s Red Sangria