A few notes:
For this recipe, you can use the white wine of your choice. It has some great flavors added, so I generally go for the cheapest bottle I can find.

You can use white grape juice or apple juice in place of the sparkling cider, but it's always nice to have a bit of fizz.

Any variety of apple will do, but gala apples, or even pears, go very well in this recipe.

Smash the grapes over the pitcher with your fingers so any juices will be added to the sangria.

I use two of ounces brandy for a lighter version, but you can double the amount for something stronger. Try adding an ounce at a time until desired strength is reached. If you don't have brandy on hand, rum is equally as good.