Carrabba's Blackberry Sangria Recipe: Get a Taste of Summer

If you're a fan of cocktails, then there is a really good chance you’ve realized that finding a proper recipe might be hard. But, Carrabba’s blackberry sangria recipe gets everything correct.

This blackberry sangria recipe is simply perfect. The trick lies in the single most important ingredient: red wine. A fruity, preferably Spanish or Italian wine takes this drink to a different level, all the while adding some nice colors and flair.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• Pro Tips
• Carrabba's Blackberry Sangria Recipe

Ingredients

• Simple syrup — ¼ cup.
• Red wine — 1 bottle.
• Brandy — ⅓ cup.
• Cranberry juice — 1 cup.
• Vanilla flavoring — ½ tsp.
• Blackberries — 1 cup, crushed.
• Orange — 1 pc., sliced.
• Lemon — 1 pc., sliced.
• Ice — 1 pack.

Instructions

1. Add the sliced fruits; orange, lemon, and crushed blackberries into a pitcher.

2. Add cranberry juice, simple syrup, and brandy over the fruits.

3. Then, pour a bottle of red wine.

4. Mix with vanilla flavoring.

5. Chill for 2-3 hours.

6. Garnish with ice.

Substitutions

• Vanilla flavoring — Vanilla flavoring is simply the best when it comes to making a sangria. It adds a subtle and unique flavor to your drink, one that compliments the sweetness and the acidity of the other ingredients, namely the wine and the fruits.
  
  If vanilla flavoring is definitely out of the question, you might want to consider going with vanilla extract. Both honey and maple syrup could be considered, but keep in mind that your blackberry sangria might end up being extremely sweet.

• Cranberry juice — Carabba’s blackberry sangria recipe simply is not complete without the cranberry juice. Without the rich and deep crimson color, this drink is simply not what it should be. Cranberry juice provides a tart and somewhat sweet flavor to your drink.
  
  If you’d like to make a substitution, try pomegranate juice. If the color is not a high priority for you, then you could also consider going with grape juice or pineapple juice.

• Red wine — Red wine is both the heart and the soul of this recipe for Carrabba’s blackberry sangria. The go-to wine for most sangrias is usually the Spanish red or the Spanish Rioja. It’s perfect for sangria, due to its fruity and medium-bodied flavor. It compliments the other ingredients incredibly well. Any Spanish or Italian wine with a fruity flavor will be a fairly good option.

Variations

• White sangria — Well, even though this is a blackberry sangria recipe, there is always room for different variations. If you use white wine, you will be missing the crimson color and the taste will be a bit different. You will be needing white wine instead of the classic red wine. Just as was the case with the latter, ideally, you’d want to go with a fruity one. When it comes to the fruit, you should replace those with tropical ones like pineapple and mango, which work better with white wine.

• Spiced sangria — This one resembles another classical, albeit not as iconic, drink: Mullet wine. The spice blend of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg all combine to make this hearty, warm, and earthy drink.

• Sparkling sangria — This one is a further twist from the original Carrabba’s blackberry sangria wine, but it does work great! You will need sparkling water, or sparkling wine to make this delicious drink.

Equipment

• Measuring cups and spoons.

• Pitcher.

• Serving glasses.

Storage

• Transfer your leftover sangria to a pitcher with a lid, or any other covered container.

• Store the sangria in your fridge, for up to 3-4 days maximum.

Pro Tips

• The fruits — The star ingredient of Carrabba’s blackberry sangria is the wine. But, the fruits help a lot. Make sure to go with fresh, high-quality ingredients. Doing this will elevate your drink to another level.

• The sweetener — Even though both are fairly important ingredients, the combination of fruits and wine might result in a bit of acidity. If this would be a problem for you, you might want to use a bit of a sweetener like honey or agave nectar.