Camping Apple Sangria

This camping apple sangria is made with red wine, apples, cider, and Grand Marnier for an easy cocktail that can be prepped ahead of time.

There are few things in life as relaxing as a sipping a cocktail by a campfire.

It's one of life's great pleasures.

Last fall, we went camping with friends for the weekend, and I wanted to bring along some drinks that were ready to serve and low-effort.

Happily, I had some apples and wine on hand, and sangria is the perfect make-ahead camping drink!

This camping apple sangria uses only a few ingredients and is easy to prepare at home and serve at the campsite!

Looking for more campground recipe ideas? We also love making campfire hot chocolate with peanut butter whiskey, campfire lasagna, campfire chicken jalapeno enchiladas and campfire breakfast hash.

What Kind of Wine Should I Use?

My favorite wine for a fruity red sangria is Garnacha, a Spanish wine traditionally used with sangria.

However, if you can't find Garnacha or if you're trying to use wine you already have on hand, any dry, fruity red wine (such as Pinot Noir, Malbec or Syrah) should work. The wine in used in the photos was a Malbec, and it worked perfectly.

If you prefer a white wine sangria, try my summertime version!

Do I Need to Keep This Apple Sangria in a Camping Cooler?

Yes, this drink should be stored in the fridge and served chilled.

You don't want the fruit and wine to start fermenting, because you could end up with some unpleasant vinegar flavor notes.

We use this Igloo BMX cooler.

Do I Have to Make Sangria Ahead of Time?

Yes and no.

Sangria needs "chill time." And not because it's stressed out, ha!

After mixing everything together, the sangria should chill for at least four hours before serving. It gives the flavors time to meld together nicely.

That said, you don't have to make this at home! As long as you have a cooler with ice, you could definitely prep this sangria at the campsite and let the sangria chill in the cooler.

By the way, laws in the United States regarding the transportation of alcohol in vehicles can be complicated, including what's considered sealed and what's considered open. Check what's legal in your state, and to be on the safe side you may want to put it in the trunk. (Be sure to know the rules about what's allowed at your campground too!)

How Should I Store The Sangria?

The simplest way is to use glass mason jars with a lid.

I like to use pint-size jars and serve one jar per person. If you prefer, you could use a larger jar and ladle out the sangria into cups.

What Kind of Apples Should I Use?

This is a perfect way to use "sad" apples that are just slightly past their prime. The apples that are still perfectly fine to eat, but have lost their crunch.

I'd probably stick with sweet apples (like Honeycrisp, Fuji or Gala) and avoid overly tart apples (such as Granny Smith).

I used a combination of Gala apples and "Lucy Glo" apples – a fun apple with pink flesh that I picked up at Trader Joe's.

How to Make Camping Apple Sangria

Start by coring apples and dicing them. Make sure to cut out any bruised spots and discard (or compost).

I used four smallish apples, but if your apples are large you could use fewer.

Divide the diced apples between four glass jars.

If you've got too many diced apples, have a snack and eat the leftovers.

Next, add a little apple juice or (non-alcoholic, non-sparkling) apple cider to the jars.

Add a little Grand Marnier, an orange-flavored liqueur.

Finally, fill the jars with wine.

For four jars, you'll need about one standard-size bottle of wine.

If you have a little extra wine left, enjoy it as a treat with any extra diced apples.

Close each jar with a lid and store them in the fridge until you're ready to pack your cooler.

At camp, all you have to do is take the lid off the jar and enjoy!

This sangria also makes an excellent pitcher cocktail for serving at home!