Choose a dry to medium-bodied red wine. Pour 1 cup of red wine into a medium pitcher. Add 1 cup fresh orange juice, 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, 2 tablespoons orange liqueur (if using), and 2 tablespoons simple syrup. Stir gently to combine so the sugar dissolves into the liquid.

Adjust sweetness and acidity

Taste the mixture and, if it needs more sweetness, add up to 1 tablespoon more simple syrup. If it needs brighter acidity, add up to 1 teaspoon more lime juice. Stir after each adjustment and taste again.

Fruit & Garnish

Prepare fruit

Thinly slice half an orange and a quarter cup of lemon or lime (remove seeds). Core and dice 1/2 cup apple into 1/2-inch pieces. Halve or quarter fresh strawberries or add a mix of berries to equal 1/2 cup.

Macerate fruit in mixture

Add all prepared fruit to the pitcher with the wine and juices. Stir to combine, then gently press a few orange or berry slices with the back of a spoon to release additional juices and flavor. Let the sangria sit in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour; for best flavor, refrigerate 3–6 hours or overnight to allow the fruit to macerate and infuse the liquid.

Garnish

Just before serving, add fresh mint sprigs to the pitcher or to individual glasses for aroma and presentation (optional).

Carbonation & Serving

Add carbonation and ice

If you prefer a sparkling sangria, gently stir in 1 cup chilled club soda or sparkling water right before serving to preserve bubbles. Fill glasses with ice (about 1/2 cup ice per glass or 2 cups total for a small batch).

Serve

Spoon fruit into each glass and pour sangria over the ice, making sure each serving gets a mix of fruit. Garnish each glass with a mint sprig and an extra orange slice if desired.

Storage

Cover and refrigerate any leftover sangria (without additional soda) for up to 2 days. Add fresh club soda or sparkling water just before serving remaining portions to retain fizz.