Red vs White Sangria: Recipes, Wine & Tips

Some debates are serious. This one, habibi, really isn't. Red sangria or white sangria? It's the kind of question that splits a summer gathering right down the middle, and unlike most arguments, both sides are correct.

What is there not to love about sangria wine, Spain's great gift to summer evenings? A jug of ice-cold wine, fruit, and a little bit of magic that turns any get-together into something worth lingering over. And here's a thought for all you football fans deep in the World Cup right now: sangria makes a brilliant change from the usual match-night beers. Best of all, you make it in advance, so there's a jug chilling in the fridge ready to pour the moment kick-off arrives. Something a little different for the nights you fancy a change.

Now, I can already hear the purists clearing their throats. "Mix good wine with fruit and ice? Never." And look, habibi, I used to be right there with you. But then, on holiday in northern Spain last summer, a friend handed me a Kalimotxo, red wine mixed with cola over ice, and told me to trust her. I was sceptical. And then I tried it, and it was surprisingly good. Refreshing, easy, and exactly right for a warm evening on the streets of Pamplona.

So if the Spanish, who come from one of the world's great wine nations, not only invented the sangria in the first place but also happily pour their red into a glass with Coke and call it a Kalimotxo, then clearly wine is far more versatile than the purists would have you believe.  And the beauty of sangria wine is, the fruit doesn't ruin the wine: it transforms it, infusing every glass with fresh citrus and ripe summer flavour. It all comes down to adapting your drink to the moment, with one goal in mind: joy.

But the eternal question remains: do you go red or white sangria? Let me make the case for both, and then hand you the sangria recipes to settle it yourself.

It pairs beautifully with bold flavours, grilled meats, tapas, and anything off the barbecue, making it the natural choice for a proper gathering with plenty of food on the table. If your idea of a perfect afternoon involves good company, good food, and a jug that keeps on giving, red is your team, habibi.

It's the one for poolside afternoons and those days when the heat calls for something cool and light rather than rich and deep. White sangria pairs gorgeously with lighter fare, seafood, salads, and fresh cheeses, and it goes down dangerously easily. If easy and refreshing is your vibe, white sangria is calling your name.

Lolea Nº1 is a deliciously fruity red sangria, all ripe berries and citrus, ready to pour straight over ice. And Lolea Nº2 is its crisp, refreshing white counterpart, light and zesty. Both come in their beautiful signature polka-dot bottles, which means they look just as good on the table as they taste in the glass.

Pour over ice, add a slice of fresh fruit of your choice, and you're done!

Here's the truth, habibi: there's no wrong answer. Red sangria is bold and classic. White sangria is crisp and fresh. Both are deliciously fruity summer sangrias. So the only real way to settle it is to make both and decide for yourself, which, conveniently, sounds like an excellent evening.

And this year, there's an extra reason to raise a Spanish glass: with Spain crowned FIFA World Cup winners, what better way to toast la Roja than with a jug of the country's most iconic drink? Victory, it turns out, tastes a lot like sangria.

Whichever team you're on, you'll find everything you need at MMI, in-store or via the MMI Cheers Club App, delivered chilled to your door within two hours. The fruit, however, is on you.

Cheers, habibi. Sip responsibly.