Name: Sangria Margarita
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 750 ml bottle fruity dry red wine, chilled; 1/2 cup tequila; 1/2 cup triple sec or Cointreau; 1/2 cup simple syrup; 1/2 cup orange juice; 1/4 cup lime juice; For the garnish: 2 limes and 1 orange, sliced; Kosher salt, to rim the glass

A sangria margarita blends red wine with tequila and lime juice to make the most of both drinks! It’s a fun cocktail mash-up.

There is nothing traditional about this cocktail, but it’s a fun mash-up of two tasty drinks: a Sangria 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 really work together, complimented by triple sec, lime juice and orange juice. It’s perfect for parties and patio season!

What’s in a sangria margarita?

A sangria margarita is a drink that pairs traditional Spanish sangria with a classic margarita. Interestingly, these drinks have a cross-over ingredient: they both include triple sec or Cointreau orange liqueur as a backup to the primary liquor (brandy and tequila, respectively). So, we took our classic Spanish red wine sangria and swapped in tequila for the brandy and added lime juice: voila, sangria margarita! Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

Fruity dry red wine
Tequila
Triple sec or Cointreau
Simple syrup
Orange juice
Lime juice

Best wine for a sangria margarita

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 (we 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:

Rioja Tempranillo
Garnacha (Grenache grown in Spain)
Malbec
Pinot Noir

Flavor notes

Often in America, sangrias served in restaurants and bars are 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 a splash more of tequila to the mix. You can customize it to your liking! This is the blend we like, but our tastes tend more towards the dry side for sangria.

Garnishes for a sangria margarita

Besides tequila, the other part of a sangria margarita that’s more like a margarita? 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 these cocktail recipes:

Try our Best Simple Margarita
Opt for 21 Popular Homemade Margarita Recipes
Go for Red Sangria, White Sangria, Strawberry Sangria or 8 Easy Sangria Recipes