Thanksgiving Sangria

A festive fall sangria recipe that's perfect for your Holiday Table, this Thanksgiving Sangria recipe with red wine, bourbon and cranberry is a rich, full bodied and spiced!

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This Thanksgiving Sangria combines full-bodied red wine, bourbon whiskey, cranberry juice, maple syrup, and warm spices for a cozy fall cocktail that’s perfect for holiday entertaining! Ready in minutes and easy to make ahead of time, this sangria is a delicious pitcher drink for your Thanksgiving table.

Serve the sangria in a large pitcher and let guest help themselves, or double the recipe and serve in a punch bowl or drink dispenser!

In my humble opinion, no Thanksgiving holiday meal is complete without the ultimate Thanksgiving Sangria- and this unique and richly flavored red wine sangria doesn't disappoint. I’ve been making this sangria for family gatherings every Thanksgiving for the past few years, and it’s always the first thing to go before dinner is even on the table!

Table of Contents

• Why you'll love this Sangria
• Ingredient Notes
• Instructions
• Serving Tips for Thanksgiving Sangria
• FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
• More Festive Holiday Cocktails

Why you'll love this Sangria

Rich and full of fall flavor. With warm spices, bourbon whiskey, and full-bodied red wine, this sangria is a truly fall-inspired treat for your holiday guests!

It's a breeze to make. This Thanksgiving Sangria recipe comes together in less than 10 minutes, with simple ingredients and minimal prep!

Easily adapted to any size gathering! Whether your expecting 8 guests or 18, you can easily scale this recipe up to accommodate more guests. It also works great in a punch bowl or drink dispenser!

Ingredient Notes

Below are some tips on selecting the right ingredients to make the perfect Thanksgiving Sangria!

Sangria

Red wine. my go to red wine for this recipe is Malbec. It's a full-bodied wine with plenty of depth and hints of coffee and vanilla. It pairs very well with the spicy ingredients in the sangria. Some other great wine options for this sangria are Pinot Noir, Syrah, or Cabernet Sauvignon. Avoid anything overly sweet, such as Lambrusco.

Unsweetened cranberry juice. I use natural, unsweetened juice for this recipe, since we will be adding plenty of sugar in the form of pure maple syrup. If you prefer a sweeter sangria, you could use sweetened cranberry juice. Just taste as you go, and adjust the amount of maple syrup to your tastes! Pomegranate juice is another great option as well. 

Pure maple syrup. This adds a touch of natural sweetness and spice to the sangria, and gives its a real "fall" vibe. If you don't have maple syrup, you could also use simple syrup or agave. I prefer the flavor profile of maple syrup for this recipe.

Bourbon whiskey. The oak and spice of the bourbon pairs perfectly with the rich, full bodied red wine and spices, and adds a little "oomph" to the sangria!

Lemons or citrus. You'll add a bit of fresh lemon juice to the sangria to balance the flavors with a touch of fresh citrus, as well as add thinly sliced wheels of lemon to the sangria and glasses for serving. Orange juice and orange slices would work, too! If you can get your hands on them, blood oranges are a wonderful addition, too!

Garnishes

Frozen or fresh cranberries. These are for garnish, so you can use the frozen one right from the freezer, and they'll help keep everyone's glasses cold, too! You can also freeze the fresh cranberries overnight if you want to keep things nice and cold.

Cinnamon sticks and star anise. These spices give great flavor to the sangria as it sits, and look so pretty in the glasses, pitcher or carafe! If making ahead, add these at the last minute, about 30 minutes prior to serving. If added too soon, they can overpower the sangria.

Sliced apples. I use gala apples, honey crisp apples or pink lady apples cut into small wedges. The seasonal fruit adds a crisp bite to the sangria. You can add a mix of fresh fruit, such as grapes, oranges and pomegranate seeds, too!

Instructions

To make the sangria, you'll add the wine, bourbon, unsweetened cranberry juice, maple syrup and lemon juice to a pitcher or carafe, and combine well. At this point you can add the fruit as well.

For best flavor, add the cinnamon and star anise about 30 minutes to 1 hour prior to serving so they don't overpower the sangria as it sits. (see recipe card below for detailed instructions).

Serving Tips for Thanksgiving Sangria

Plan ahead on how much to make. This sangria serves about 8 people, so if you plan serve more guests, I would suggest doubling the recipe, or keeping the ingredients on hand to whip up a new batch.

Make things pretty. Pour sangria on ice with plenty of extra garnishes for a festive look your guests will love! I love to add extra lemon slices, cinnamon sticks, and star anise to make each glass extra festive. If you want to get extra fancy, you could also do a cinnamon sugar rim for the glasses!

Try it as a spritzer! Top the finished sangria with a bit of ginger beer, club soda or sparkling water to make it light and extra refreshing!

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Can I make the Sangria ahead of time?

If you want to make this sangria in advance, I would suggest leaving the cinnamon and star anise out until an hour or so before you serve so it doesn't infuse too heavily into the finished cocktail.

Can I make this sangria non-alcoholic?

Yes! To make this Thanksgving Sangria alcohol free, you can use alcohol free wine and non-alcoholic Bourbon!

More Festive Holiday Cocktails

If you love this Thanksgiving Sangria recipe, you'll love these festive fall cocktails, too!

Whip up some of my Berry Blood Orange Rum Punch to get your guests in the holiday spirit!

Spread some holiday cheer with my Merry Moscow Mules!

Use up that canned pumpkin with my Pumpkin Spice Martinis, like dessert in a glass!

Try my spiced and delicious Apple Cider Margaritas!

If you prefer a white wine sangria with a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, try my White Wine Sangria! 

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