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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!