Perhaps one of the most famous cocktails to come out of Spain, sangria is the wonderfully fruity wine based cocktail that anyone can enjoy.
Typically made using red wine, brandy, and a whole array of fruit, you can easily adjust the sangria recipe to suit your taste.
However if you haven’t made your sangria from scratch and instead have opted for sangria from a bottle, you may be wondering how long this will last you.
Does sangria go bad? Does sangria go bad if it’s in a bottle? How long does homemade sangria last? These are the questions that we are going to answer for you today!
By the end of this article, you will have a better idea of how your sangria will hold up once you’ve opened the bottle, or once you’ve put all of the tasty ingredients together in a jug for you to enjoy.
So let’s find out everything there is to know about sangria!
What is sangria?
Sangria is a refreshing and flavorful drink that has been enjoyed around the world for centuries. It is a blend of wine, fruit juices, brandy and other ingredients that when combined creates an incredibly flavorful drink. Sangria has its roots in ancient Rome, where it was created as a way to make wine last longer. The Romans would mix herbs and spices into their wines to increase their longevity.
Today, sangria is still popular around the world and often served as an accompaniment to meals or special occasions such as weddings or holiday celebrations. Its popularity continues to grow due to its sweet flavor and versatility; it can be made using either red or white wine and can feature any combination of fruits depending on personal preference.
Red wine sangria
Red wine sangria is a refreshing and delicious combination of red wine, fruit, and other ingredients. This popular Spanish drink has become a favorite of many for its sweetness, versatility, and ease of preparation.
Sangrias are traditionally made with any type of dry red wine – such as Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon – along with brandy, orange juice and other fruits like apples or oranges. Other common additions include triple sec or Cointreau liquor and lemon-lime soda which lend to the signature sweet flavor of the beverage. The mixture can be made in large batches ahead of time so that it’s ready when guests arrive.
This is the perfect summertime libation since it can be served both chilled over ice or at room temperature depending on one’s preference.
White wine sangria
White wine sangria is the perfect summer drink. This lively, fruity and refreshing beverage is guaranteed to give your guests a treat at any gathering. With white wine as its base, this popular Spanish beverage can be easily transformed with any seasonal fruit of your choice.
Whether you’re looking for something to please a crowd or just want something special for yourself, white wine sangria is the way to go! Assemble an array of sweet and tart flavors like citrus fruits, apples and berries into a pitcher, add some sugar and pour in the white wine. In no time at all you will have a delicious concoction that everyone will enjoy! For those looking to cut down on calories while still having fun, it’s easy enough to substitute light beverages such as sodas or seltzers for part of the alcohol content in your sangria recipe.
Does Sangria Go Bad?
Like every type of wine or beverage, sangria does indeed go bad. Even though it has wine in it, which can last for a long time, it will have an expiry date.
Once the wine has been exposed to the air, this can cause the wine in the sangria to oxidize, which can then cause it to go bad. The general rule of thumb is that if you keep your sangria in a refrigerator it will keep for around 5 days. Anything more than this and your sangria is likely to go bad.
It will be best to try and use it up within 3 to 5 days of making the sangria so that you don’t have to worry about any of this delicious Spanish cocktail from going to waste.
You can also try to keep your sangria fresher for longer by freezing it. By putting your sangria in the freezer, this can help it to keep for between 1 to 2 weeks.
If you were to try and store your sangria at room temperature, the oxidation process would be sped up. It would take around 24 hours for the sangria to go bad.
So if you want to keep it for longer, make sure to store your sangria in the refrigerator. This can then allow you to enjoy it at your own pace.
Does Sangria In A Bottle Go Bad?
Yes, bottled sangria does go bad. Just like any other wine or beverage, your bottled sangria will come with a use by date that you will need to bear in mind.
If you don’t bear this in mind when you place your bottled sangria in the refrigerator or store cupboard, the next time you go looking for something else, you’ll find a sad bottle of forgotten sangria that’s now 4 years out of date.
And no one wants to miss out on tasty sangria!
You can tell how long you have to enjoy your bottle of sangria from the use by date on the label. But the general rule of thumb tends to be around 3 months if the bottle is left unopened. If you have opened up your bottle of sangria, then this will keep for a maximum of 5 days when kept in the refrigerator.
How Long Will Sangria Keep In The Fridge?
If you were to keep your opened sangria in the fridge, it will last you anywhere between 3 to 5 days. It will ultimately depend on how old the sangria is.
The older it is, the less it will last. The fresher it is, the longer it will last you. But anything beyond the 5 day limit is best thrown away, as this will no longer taste very nice. Bear in mind that drinking bad sangria is unlikely to make you ill. However, it won’t have the same lovely flavors that it did when fresh.
Which can mean drinking bad sangria will be downright unpleasant! So it’s best to stick it in the fridge so that you can enjoy it before the 5 day period is up.
How long does homemade sangria last?
Homemade sangria is a refreshing and delicious alcoholic beverage perfect for any summer gathering. It also happens to be relatively easy to make, as it requires only a few ingredients and can be made with fresh fruits. However, one of the most commonly asked questions about homemade sangria is how long does it last?
The answer to how long does sangria stay good largely depends on the recipe and ingredients used. Since sangria contains alcohol, when stored correctly it has a long shelf life. That said, if you’re using fresh fruits like oranges and apples, you should consume within two days of making it if kept in the refrigerator or up to four days if left out at room temperature. If your sangria also includes carbonated soda or sparkling wine, then that should not be added until right before serving so as not to lose its effervescence.
Always store your homemade sangria in an airtight container in your fridge to avoid oxidation of the wine and the fruit.
How Do You Know If Sangria Is Bad?
You should generally be able to tell if your sangria has gone bad from its appearance. With red wine being one of the main ingredients, this gives you an obvious indicator.
The wine will tend to change color slightly, and it may appear yellow or orange in appearance. You will also notice that the fruit has started to discolor.
The fruit can be another excellent indicator that your sangria has gone bad. This can start to turn brown, and not appear to hold their typical color.
If the fruit in your sangria appears to have turned brown or has started to wilt, then you will need to throw it away.
What to do with leftover sangria?
Why not try and create your own sangria icicle pops for a tasty treat partway through the week? You can also get all that tasty fresh fruits into each popsicle for an eye catching dessert that’s also got a fruity treat inside. You just need to blend the fruit with some leftover sangria and pour it into popsicle molds. You’ll end up with sweet and refreshing treats that everyone will love!
You can use leftover sangria to make nice ice cubes which you can use to spice up other drinks. Just keep some of the fruit and put them in the ice cube mold. Pour your red wine sangria or white wine sangria over the sangria fruit and put everything in the freezer.
When it comes to parties, there’s nothing quite like a pitcher of sangria. Its flavorful mix of wine and fruit is the perfect accompaniment for any gathering. But after the party is over, what do you do with all that leftover sangria? Don’t worry – there are plenty of options for making use of those last few glasses!
Why not transform your leftovers into a delicious dessert? Sangria can be used as an ingredient in cakes or cupcakes, adding a unique flavor to the finished product. For something savory, cooked sangria can be used as a marinade for meat or vegetables. You can use the fruit for a salad. This would be a perfect match as a salad for a barbecue.
In Summary
And there you have it! Sangria does indeed go bad! No matter whether you’ve made it from scratch or bought a ready made bottle from the store.
Your sangria will keep for around 3 to 5 days when stored in the refrigerator, around 1 to 2 weeks if frozen, and around 24 hours if you were to leave it out at room temperature. If you were to buy a bottle of ready made sangria, this will last you for around 3 months if left unopened. However, the use by date of the bottle may differ from manufacturer to manufacturer.
To get the very best out of your sangria, it will be best to drink it sooner rather than later. You can try and get it to last longer by freezing it, but be aware that the added water content once it has defrosted may alter the flavors.
