Olive Garden Sangria Recipe (Easy Copycat in 5 Ingredients)

Olive Garden’s sangria is one of those drinks that keeps people coming back, a bright, fruit-forward wine cocktail that tastes like a restaurant treat but comes together in about 10 minutes at home. If you want a big batch ready for a weeknight dinner or a casual weekend gathering, this copycat gets you there without any fancy equipment or hard-to-find ingredients.

It works just as well for a table of two as it does for a crowd. Scale it up, keep a pitcher in the fridge, and it’s ready whenever you need it.

Why I Love This Recipe

The flavor here is tart and just a little sweet, with the orange juice keeping things bright instead of heavy or syrupy. The fruit soaks up the wine as it sits, so even the garnish is worth eating.

It comes together fast and gets better as it chills, which means less fuss right before guests arrive.

Recipe Ingredients

• 1 bottle (750ml) dry red wine – A fruity Spanish red like Garnacha or Tempranillo works best; avoid anything too tannic
• 1 cup orange juice – Freshly squeezed gives the brightest flavor, but a good store-bought 100% OJ works fine
• 1/4 cup brandy – Gives the sangria its depth; Spanish brandy is traditional but any VS-grade brandy works
• 3 tbsp simple syrup – Adjust to taste depending on how sweet your wine and OJ already are
• 1 orange – Sliced into rounds for steeping and garnish
• 1 lemon – Sliced into rounds, adds a clean citrus bite
• 1 cup club soda – Added just before serving to keep the fizz alive
• 1 cup ice – For serving

Variations / Substitutions

• White wine instead of red – Use a dry Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc for a lighter, crisper version with a paler color.
• Triple Sec instead of brandy – Swaps in easily and adds a stronger orange note; use the same 1/4 cup measure.
• Honey instead of simple syrup – Adds a floral sweetness; start with 2 tbsp and stir well since honey takes a moment to dissolve.
• Sparkling water instead of club soda – Works identically if club soda is not on hand; the fizz level will be the same.
• Add berries or apple – Drop in 1/2 cup of sliced strawberries or thin apple slices when you add the citrus; they soak up flavor well.
• Make it non-alcoholic – Replace the wine with concord grape juice and the brandy with 2 tbsp of orange juice plus a splash of apple cider vinegar for a little sharpness.

If you enjoy fruit-forward wine drinks, Copycat Applebee’s Perfect Margarita is worth a look next.

How To Make Sangria

Step 1: Slice the Citrus and Combine the Base

In a large pitcher, combine the 1 bottle (750ml) dry red wine, 1 cup orange juice, 1/4 cup brandy, and 3 tbsp simple syrup. Stir everything together for about 30 seconds until the syrup is fully dissolved and you can no longer see it pooling at the bottom.

Slice the 1 orange and 1 lemon into rounds roughly 1/4 inch thick, then drop them straight into the pitcher. Give the whole thing one more stir so the fruit settles into the liquid.

Step 2: Chill the Sangria

Cover the pitcher and refrigerate it for at least 2 hours, though 4 hours is better. The longer it sits, the more the citrus oils and juice work into the wine, rounding out the sharpness from the brandy.

After 2 hours, the color deepens and the liquid smells less boozy and more like fruit. That is the cue it is ready, though you can absolutely leave it overnight if you are prepping ahead.

Step 3: Pour and Garnish the Glasses

When you are ready to serve, add the 1 cup of club soda to the pitcher and stir gently, just 2 or 3 turns so you keep the carbonation. Fill glasses with the 1 cup of ice, then pour the sangria over and make sure at least 1 orange or lemon slice lands in each glass.

Serve immediately so the bubbles are still there when the glass hits the table.

Recipe Tips

• Use a wine you would actually drink. Sangria does not rescue a wine that tastes flat on its own; a basic $10 Garnacha is more than enough.
• Do not skip the chill time. Two hours is the minimum, but the fruit needs time to actually flavor the liquid rather than just float in it.
• Taste before you add the club soda. If the base is sweeter than you want, hold back on the club soda and add a small squeeze of fresh lemon to pull it back.
• Keep the club soda cold. Warm sparkling water kills the fizz almost immediately; store it in the fridge alongside the pitcher.

Scale it to your batch size:

How To Store

• Refrigerate – Keep the sangria (without the club soda added) in a covered pitcher or sealed container for up to 3 days. The fruit flavor actually improves on day 2.
• Serve Cold – Pour straight from the fridge over fresh ice. Add the club soda portion-by-portion as you pour each glass rather than all at once, so the fizz does not go flat in the pitcher.

What To Serve With Sangria

Olive Garden sangria is sharp and slightly sweet, which makes it a natural match for salty, savory food. Breadsticks with marinara work well because the salt in the bread grounds the fruit-forward wine. A simple charcuterie board with cured meats and aged cheese also holds up to the tannins in the red wine in a way that lighter snacks do not. If you are serving it with a full meal, a pasta dish with a red sauce like arrabbiata or a simple tomato and basil linguine balances the acidity in the sangria rather than fighting it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this sangria a day ahead?

Yes, and it actually tastes better on day 2. Just hold off on adding the club soda until right before you pour.

Does the type of brandy matter much?

Not significantly. Any standard VS-grade brandy works. You just want something you would drink on its own; avoid cooking brandy, which tends to taste harsh.

Can I use frozen fruit instead of fresh citrus?

You can, but the slices will turn mushy quickly. If fresh citrus is not available, squeeze the juice straight into the pitcher and add a few thin peels instead of full rounds.

How strong is this sangria compared to a glass of wine?

It is slightly stronger than a straight pour of wine because of the brandy, but the juice and club soda dilute it enough that most people find one large glass (about 8 oz) is comfortable with a meal.

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Sangria Recipe

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 bottle (750ml) dry red wine
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup brandy
• 3 tbsp simple syrup
• 1 orange, sliced into rounds
• 1 lemon, sliced into rounds
• 1 cup club soda
• 1 cup ice

Method

 

1. In a large pitcher, stir together the red wine, orange juice, brandy, and simple syrup for about 30 seconds until the syrup is fully dissolved. Add the orange and lemon slices and stir once more.
2. Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or up to overnight, until the color has deepened and the flavors have melded.
3. Just before serving, gently stir in the club soda with 2 to 3 turns to preserve the fizz. Fill glasses with ice, pour the sangria over, and make sure at least 1 citrus slice lands in each glass.

Notes

This recipe is best made at least 2 hours ahead, so plan for that before guests arrive. Add the club soda only when you are ready to pour — adding it to the whole pitcher too early flattens it within 20 minutes. If you want it a little less sweet, a squeeze of fresh lemon stirred in before serving pulls the balance back nicely.