This skinny red sangria margarita is your two favorite cocktails in one! Naturally sweet fresh orange juice, red wine, blanco tequila, and a squeeze of lime make the perfect lightened up sangria margarita. It’s a simple yet delicious easy cocktail recipe. This is a great cocktail to serve for a summer BBQ or cookout!
Red wine sangria is one of my favorite drinks, but it can be a little heavy so I prefer to drink it in the winter months. Adding a margarita into the mix makes this the perfect summer cocktail! Check out 50+ Best Summer Cocktails for some more summer drink inspiration!
Jump to RecipeWhy this recipe works
- Simple to make, with only 4 ingredients.
- Uses fresh ingredients with no added sugar.
- It’s light, refreshing and perfect for the hot weather!
Ingredient notes
Red Wine
Using a dry red wine in this recipe will be best. Dry red wines include cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and pinot noir. Sweeter red wines can be used but will result in a much sweeter cocktail. I highly suggest using a red wine that you enjoy drinking on its own, versus purchasing a cheap red wine solely for the drink.
Omit for a traditional skinny margarita.
Tequila
There are three main kinds of tequila: blanco, reposado, and añejo. Of those, there are two types of tequila to use in a margarita: reposado or blanco. Because reposado tequila is aged longer than blanco, it adds an extra dynamic flavor. However, blanco tequila is also ideal because it has a light flavor. Either are a great option and depend on your taste preference and what is available.
Añejo tequila is best for sipping neat, and extra añejo is for special occasions (at least at my home!). I would refrain from using this kind of tequila when making any type of tequila mixed drink.
Substitute for mezcal for a mezcal margarita, or vodka for a vodka margarita.
Limes
Fresh limes are absolutely essential for any margarita and add that tartness. I do not recommend using store-bought lime juice for margaritas since they have such few ingredients.
Substitute for lemons, but it will be a tad sweeter.
Oranges
To make this cocktail what it is, you need fresh oranges. Use any type of orange, you can even use blood oranges!
Substitute for orange liqueur - like Cointreau, Grand Marnier or triple sec.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Instructions
This easy recipe will have you sipping in the sunshine in no time!
Simply add all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake for about 15 seconds.
Strain the sangria margarita mixture into a glass with a cup of ice and garnish with a fresh lime wedge or orange wedge.
Enjoy responsibly!
Variations
- Make this a white sangria margarita instead by swapping for a white wine like sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio.
- Add freshly grated cinnamon stick as a garnish.
- If you want this sangria margarita recipe to be sweeter, add extra orange juice, simple syrup, or a little agave nectar.
- Make an orange zest margarita salt rim by zesting an orange into margarita salt. Dip the rim in lime juice and rim the margarita glass or rocks glass with the salt.
Expert Tips
Choosing the right red wine: As with most red wine cocktails and drinks (like a red wine sangria), use a bottle of wine that you would drink as a stand alone drink. I highly suggest using a drier red wine as opposed to a sweet wine, as a sweet red wine will make this cocktail too sweet.
Make it fruity: If you want this to be a total sangria moment, add fresh fruit to the cocktail as garnish. Try apple slices, pears, cherries or strawberries for a fruity red wine sangria.
Make it a pitcher: Double, triple, quadruple (etc.) the recipe for however many servings you need! Then stir and serve from the pitcher into a glass filled with ice. Just remember that shaking the cocktail one-by-one does combine the flavors a little bit better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use bottled sangria for this recipe?
You can but since pre-made sangria already contains added sugar, I prefer to use red wine instead.
Which red wine is best for this recipe?
Typically red sangria is made with a rioja or garnacha red wine, but you can use any dry red wine for this recipe.
Can I make this into a white wine sangria margarita?
Yes! You can swap out the red wine for a dry white wine to make this a white sangria margarita.
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Red Sangria Margarita
Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker
Ingredients
- 2 ounces lime juice freshly squeezed
- 2 ounces orange juice freshly squeezed
- 2 ounces dry red wine like pino noir or cabernet sauvingnon
- 2 ounces tequila I prefer blanco
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice and shake for 15 seconds, or until frozen to the touch.
- Strain into a glass filled with fresh ice.
- Garnish with a fresh lime or orange wedge.
Notes
Nutrition
Ever since she taught herself how to cook, Elise has been making simple recipes with fresh ingredients. She believes the best recipes highlight the ingredients by using the best of cooking techniques. She’s an avid juicer and has juiced each and every fruit and vegetable there is. She also creates savory recipes inspired by what’s available in California. Many of her authentic Mexican recipes are passed down from her from mother in law and is a huge influence on her cooking.
Even as a self-proclaimed fan of the classic margarita, I really enjoyed this take. The addition of sangria to the classic cocktail really took it in a unique direction. I could definitely see this drink going well with a light lunch!
So glad you enjoyed it Riley! It's the perfect boozy sangria!
I know I love Sangria and I love margaritas but I wasn't sure how it would turn out once they were mixed, but my goodness these were great! I had a movie night and made them for everyone, it was a great quick drink to make for people but looks like you put a lot of effort in! Just beware they are so good that you don't even realize how much alcohol is in them!!
So unexpectedly good! It's a match made in heaven, but agree on your note - they can sneak up on you!