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A sangria margarita blends red wine with tequila and lime juice to make the most of both drinks! It’s a fun cocktail mashup.
There is nothing traditional about this cocktail, but it’s a fun mashup of two tasty drinks: a sangria and a margarita! This one pairs the unlikely combination of a Spanish red sangria with a classic Mexican margarita for a pitcher-style refreshing drink.
The red wine and tequila already work together well, but they’re complemented further by triple sec, lime juice, and orange juice. I love it at taco nights and during patio season!
What’s in a sangria margarita?
A sangria margarita pairs traditional Spanish sangria with a classic margarita. Interestingly, these drinks have a crossover ingredient: they both include triple sec or Cointreau orange liqueur as a backup to the primary liquor (brandy and tequila, respectively).
Knowing all of that, I took my classic Spanish red wine sangria and swapped in tequila for the brandy, then added lime juice for the margarita flavors. Voilà , sangria margarita! Here are the ingredients you’ll need:
- Fruity dry red wine
- Tequila
- Triple sec or Cointreau
- Simple syrup
- Orange juice
- Lime juice
The best wines to use
For this sangria margarita recipe, you’ll need a bottle of dry red wine. Any dry red will do. Of course, if you’re a sweet wine person — I see you out there! — you may want to opt for a sweet red wine instead for this drink.
Some of the best varietals for dry red wine are:
- Tempranillo
- Grenache (Garnacha)
- Malbec
- Pinot noir
Flavor notes
Sangrias served in restaurants and bars are often incredibly sweet. This sangria margarita is closer to a traditional Spanish sangria in flavor. It tastes bold and fruity, with a balance of dry and sweet.
If you prefer sweet drinks, you may want to use a sweet red wine or add a bit more simple syrup after tasting the pitcher. You also may find that you’d like more of a noticeable tequila flavor, so feel free to add another splash to the mix. Customize it to your liking!
The blend I’ll share is what I like making at home, but I like my sangrias on the dry side.
Add some garnishes
Besides tequila, the other part of a sangria margarita that’s more like a margarita is the salt rim! Add some citrus slices, and it makes for the most beautiful presentation. Here’s what you’ll need for garnishing the glass:
- Kosher salt or flaky salt: The easiest way to rim a glass is to cut a notch in a lime wedge, then slide it around the rim. Then dip the outside edge of the glass rim into a plate of salt.
- Lime and orange slices: It’s all about presentation with a sangria margarita, so load up on citrus slices, especially if you’re entertaining!
More sangria & margarita recipes
This sangria margarita makes a big pitcher that’s perfect for entertaining! Here are a few more variations on both sides of the mashup:
Sangria Margarita
A sangria margarita blends red wine with tequila and lime juice to make the most of both drinks! It’s a fun cocktail mashup.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: Cocktail
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 750 ml bottle fruity dry red wine, chilled
- ½ cup tequila
- ½ cup triple sec or Cointreau
- ½ cup simple syrup
- ½ cup orange juice
- ¼ cup lime juice
- For the garnish: 2 limes and 1 orange, sliced
- Kosher salt, to rim the glass
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, stir together the red wine, tequila, triple sec or Cointreau, simple syrup, orange juice, and lime juice.
- Taste, and if desired, add more syrup or tequila for a sweeter or boozier vibe.
- Garnish the pitcher with lime and orange wedges and a handful of ice cubes.
- To serve, cut a notch in a lime wedge, then run the lime around the rim of each glass. Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of salt.
- Add 1 handful ice and pour in the sangria.
- Garnish with orange and lime slices.
Now this sounds like a summer drink! Yum! I can’t wait to make this when the weather gets a little warmer here in canada!
nice cocktail combo, red wine and tequilla, oh my, thank you!