This Fall Harvest Sangria is the ultimate fall cocktail made with crisp white wine, fresh apple cider, juicy apples, pears, oranges and warm cinnamon sticks! It’s refreshing, perfectly festive and so easy to make ahead for Thanksgiving, Halloween parties or any fall get-together.
If there’s one cocktail I love making when the weather starts cooling down, it’s this fall harvest sangria! I mean, what’s not to love about a big pitcher filled with fresh seasonal fruit, apple cider and your favorite white wine?! It’s pretty enough to be the centerpiece of your holiday table, but takes just 10 minutes to throw together.
The combination of crisp Sauvignon Blanc, sweet apple cider and a splash of caramel vodka gives this sangria the most delicious caramel apple flavor. And the best part? You can make it several hours before your guests arrive so all those flavors have time to come together. Just add a little bubbly club soda before serving and you’re good to go!
Why You’ll Love This Sangria
Perfect for fall entertaining. This festive cocktail is great for Thanksgiving, Halloween parties, Friendsgiving or cozy nights with friends.
Easy to make ahead. Just mix everything together and let the flavors develop in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.
Loaded with seasonal flavors. Fresh apples, pears, oranges, apple cider and cinnamon give this sangria all those cozy fall vibes.
Great for a crowd. One big pitcher makes 6 servings, and you can easily double the recipe for larger gatherings.
Easy to customize. Switch up the fruit, use your favorite white wine or adjust the sweetness to your liking.
Ingredients You’ll Need
white wine – I love using a crisp, dry Sauvignon Blanc for this recipe because it balances the sweetness of the apple cider and fruit. Pinot Grigio is another great option.
apples – Honeycrisp apples are my favorite because they’re naturally sweet, slightly tart and hold up really well in the sangria.
pear – I used a Bartlett pear for its delicious sweetness, but Bosc or Anjou pears work great too.
orange – fresh orange slices add a bright citrus flavor that balances all the sweet fall ingredients.
pomegranate seeds – these add such a pretty pop of color! Fresh cranberries also make a beautiful garnish.
apple cider – use fresh, unfiltered apple cider for the best flavor. This is what gives the sangria that delicious apple taste without needing additional sweetener.
caramel vodka – adds a subtle caramel apple flavor that makes this sangria extra delicious! Regular vodka or vanilla vodka works too.
cinnamon sticks – infuse the sangria with a warm, cozy cinnamon flavor.
club soda – a little splash of bubbly club soda right before serving makes this sangria extra refreshing.
Find the full ingredient list with measurements in the recipe card below.
What is the Best Wine for Fall Sangria?
I personally love using Sauvignon Blanc for fall sangria because it’s crisp, refreshing and not overly sweet. Since we’re already adding fresh apple cider, fruit and caramel vodka, a dry white wine helps keep the flavors balanced.
Pinot Grigio is another excellent choice, especially if you prefer something light and easy-drinking. You could also use an off-dry Riesling for a sweeter sangria.
And if you’re more of a red wine person, you can absolutely make a red wine version! Just keep in mind that the flavor will be a little richer and less crisp.
My biggest tip? Use a wine you actually enjoy drinking! You don’t need an expensive bottle, but you definitely want something that tastes good on its own.
How to Make Fall Harvest Sangria
The greatest thing about this festive cocktail is that it really only takes about 5 minutes to throw together! Here’s how to easily make this sangria.
Prepare the fruit. Chop or slice the apples and pear into bite-sized pieces and thinly slice the orange. You can leave the peels on for extra color and texture.
Combine everything. Add the chopped apples, pear, orange slices, pomegranate seeds and cinnamon sticks to a large pitcher. Pour in the white wine, apple cider and caramel vodka, giving everything a good stir.
Chill the sangria. Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, preferably up to 6 hours, so the fruit and cinnamon have time to infuse the wine.
Serve and enjoy! Fill your wine glasses with ice, pour in the sangria along with some of the fresh fruit and top each glass with a splash of club soda. Garnish with an extra cinnamon stick, if desired, and enjoy!
Tips for the Best Fall Sangria
Give it time to chill. Sangria tastes so much better after the fruit has had a chance to soak up all those delicious flavors. I recommend at least 3 hours in the fridge.
Use fresh apple cider. Look for unfiltered apple cider rather than regular apple juice for a richer, more authentic apple flavor.
Choose firm fruit. Honeycrisp apples and slightly firm pears hold their shape beautifully, even after sitting in the sangria.
Add the bubbles last. Wait until right before serving to add the club soda so your sangria stays nice and fizzy.
Adjust the sweetness. If you prefer sweeter cocktails, stir in a little honey or agave syrup to taste. I personally think the apple cider and fruit add plenty of sweetness!
Make it extra festive. Try a cinnamon-sugar rim on your glasses and garnish with fresh rosemary, orange slices or extra cranberries.
Make-Ahead and Storage Tips
One of my favorite things about this fall harvest sangria is how easy it is to prepare ahead of time, especially when hosting!
To make ahead: Combine the fruit, white wine, apple cider, vodka and cinnamon sticks in a large pitcher. Cover and refrigerate for 3 to 6 hours before serving.
To store: Keep leftover sangria covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. For the best flavor and texture, remove any fruit that starts getting too soft and add fresh club soda when serving.
For parties: You can double the recipe and serve it in a large beverage dispenser or two pitchers. Just make sure to leave room for all that delicious fruit!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! You can prepare this sangria the night before and keep it covered in the refrigerator. For the freshest flavor, I prefer making it 3 to 6 hours before serving, but overnight works too. If making it overnight, you can remove the cinnamon sticks after a few hours to prevent the cinnamon flavor from becoming too strong. Add the club soda right before serving.
Absolutely! You can leave out the caramel vodka for a lighter sangria. The white wine, apple cider, fresh fruit and cinnamon will still taste delicious together.
Yes! While this recipe is made with Sauvignon Blanc, a fruity red wine such as Pinot Noir can work nicely with the apple cider and fall fruit. Just know that the sangria will have a richer flavor and deeper color.
Fresh apple cider is typically unfiltered and has a more robust apple flavor, while apple juice is usually filtered and tastes a little lighter. I recommend fresh apple cider for this recipe because it gives the sangria that delicious fall apple flavor.
This sangria is perfect for fall parties and holiday gatherings! I love serving it alongside a festive cheese board, baked brie, roasted nuts or other easy appetizers. It’s also a beautiful cocktail to serve before Thanksgiving dinner.
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Hope you all enjoy this Fall Harvest Sangria! If you love this as much as we do, please leave me star rating below and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using the hashtag #eatyourselfskinny! I love seeing all your delicious recreations!