Black Magic Sangria

This black magic drink is a purple punch mixed with blackberries, black grapes, and black plums. Can be made tart (like a witch!) or spellbindingly sweet.

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About Black Magic Sangria

Whether you would call this black magic drink a sangria or an adult fruit punch, it’s bound to be a hit with its deep fruity flavor and festive look.

And the best part about this sangria?

It’s easy to customize to fit the theme of your party (and guests!)

If you’d like a dark and festive sangria (like the one pictured) that has a bit of a tart bite, use a dry red wine like Pinot Noir. The red wine will give the sangria a beautiful hue and will deepen the shades of the fruit.

OR if you’d like a more classicly sweet sangria, go with a Rosé or another light and fruity red. The sangria won’t be as deep in color, but the dark fruit will be more visible, giving it a different (but equally cool) magic vibe.

But no matter which wine you pick, this sangria is bound to be a spooky and crafty addition to any party!

What type of wine should you use?

For this recipe, I’d recommend sticking to the two types of wine defined below, as they tend to pair well with cran-grape juice.

• Pinot Noir – This will give the sangria a tart flavor and a dark, spooky look. And if you really want to use Pinot Noir but are hesitant about the “tart” taste, you can always add 1-2 tablespoons of powdered sugar or simple syrup to help cut the bite.
• Rosé – This will give you a lighter, sweeter, and more classic sangria taste, but the color of the sangria might be impacted.

How long should you chill sangria?

In most cases, sangria must be chilled to allow the fruit to work its magic, both in flavoring the sangria and absorbing the melody of liquids.

In the case of this sangria, chilling for a minimum of two hours should do – but if you use Pinot Noir, I’d recommend chilling for at least four hours. The extra time will give the fruit longer to saturate AND the black plums will take on a really pretty hue from the Pinot Noir.

Can you use sparkling Rosé?

If you use Rosé, check to see whether it’s sparkling (carbonated) or not. If it is, decide whether you want the sangria to still have some of that carbonation when served. If so, you may want to mix the fruit and fruit juice on their own, allow them to chill for the allotted time, and then add the Rosé to the sangria only after it’s been poured into serving glasses.

How long can you leave out sangria?

Sangria should be served chilled, so in most cases, you’ll be taking the sangria pitcher directly from the refrigerator and pouring it into glasses. Once the pitcher is out of the refrigerator, you probably have around 30 minutes to an hour (depending on the surrounding temperature) before the sangria gets to room temperature.

For food safety, the sangria should not sit at room temperature for more than 30 minutes. It’s best to always refrigerate sangria when it’s not in use.

How long does sangria last?

Once prepared, sangria can be stored in a pitcher in the refrigerator for up to five days.

Notes & tips for this Halloween sangria

• I couldn’t find the pitcher I used for the photos online, but in my searches, I simply fell in love with this sangria pitcher set. It’s on my Christmas list!
• Like the skull swizzle sticks used in the photos? I got them on discount last year but found a similar set online here: skull swizzle sticks.

More Halloween recipes

Other fun drinks

How to make black magic sangria

This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.

Step 1 – In a large pitcher, toss in the following ingredients: blackberries, black grapes, black plums, cran-grape juice, brandy, raspberry liqueur, and red wine.

Step 2 – Give everything a good stir and do a taste test. Depending on the type of wine you used, you may want to add a few tablespoons of sugar.

Step 3 – Chill!

Step 4 – Serve and enjoy!